Any Internet experts out there? (not a tech support request!)

[SenseOfTumour]

Just wondering, what is the expense in running an ISP? If you're someone like BT or Virgin, who already have their network of cables running across the country (this is UK I'm talking about), then what's the cost of the data running thru them?

From my ignorant-of-the-facts viewpoint, after the massive cost of setting up the network, surely the only real costs are admin and maintenance.

I guess in short my question is 'Does large bandwidth use actually cost the ISP more, or is it just some arbitrary cost made up to restrict the end user and make us feel like we're getting something for our money?'.

I do realise these companies have to make money, I'm just wondering if, once setup, there's any real cost to the use of the lines, and whether some who uses 1gb a month, costs more than someone using 100gb a month.

Note: No, I don't know, that's why I'm asking, I'd google it, but I think if I google 'internet' I might break it.

 

[Rock Avich]

Oh... this isn't an Internet CULTURE expert thread...

 

[cleverlymadeup]

well see there's a catch here, if you're a telco you don't pay for the bandwidth, it's your's and costs you nothing, sides the electricity bill, initial equipment charge and the employees to run it

HOWEVER you charge the hell out of your customers for usage of said bandwidth, a lot of the companies are thousands of dollars a month and that's for a small time one, most pay tens of thousands a month

 

[SenseOfTumour]

That's kinda what I was asking, as BT own and run the main telephone network in the UK, does it cost THEM any more if I use 1gb a month or 100gb?

I didn't know, but I thought they screwed any company on the in between reselling bandwidth, as they pretty much have a monopoly, although they're losing their stronghold as companies like Virgin and Sky and NTL sell their net access thru their cable TV service.

I also wonder if me making a 5 min local call is any more costly to BT than me making a 2 hour national call ( I realise international calls get complicated).

Because at present my 3 monthly bill is about 90% 'service charges' and about 10% calls, I'd drop the damn line completely if I didn't need it for my net access, as I tend to Skype most people, and you don't get fuckwits trying to sell you stuff thru Skype(crosses fingers it doesn't start happening, as a few banner ads are easier to ignore than someone trying to sell me crap or tell me ..you..have..won..a..free...holiday... .. to..claim...call...our...win...line...costs..£5..a..minute...

 

[SenseOfTumour]

That's kinda how I saw it, but wanted to throw it out there and see what people thought.

I guess I'm still of the opinion that BT are raking in millions and screwing all their customers for doing not much more than f-all, and that the whole network could be opened up far more for very little extra cost.

 

[Ionami]

There's also the fact that most major internet providers will monitor areas of service, and if they see a particularly high volume of usage in a neighborhood, they will cut down on bandwidth and reroute it somewhere else temporarily. So, there's a good bet that you're not actually getting all the bandwidth you're paying for. In fact, you're most likely only getting a fraction of it. At least, that's the way it works in North America. Our ISP's are being investigated over this, as it's highly illegal.

Either way I would say that we're being charged a lot more than what we should be.