[teelotes]

Berkman Center for Internet & Society has published its study done for FCC, "Next Generation Connectivity: A review of broadband Internet transitions and policy from around the world", for public comment. An interesting and in-depth read on the current trends and policies around the world.

Source (PDF file)

Of note:

The highest prices for the lowest speeds are overwhelmingly offered by firms in the United States and Canada, all of which inhabit markets structured around “inter-modal” competition — that is, competition between one incumbent owning a telephone system, and one incumbent owning a cable system.

Sounds familiar?

The lowest prices and highest speeds are almost all offered by firms in markets where, in addition to an incumbent telephone company and a cable company, there are also competitors who entered the market, and built their presence, through use of open access facilities.

Companies that occupy the mid-range along these two dimensions mostly operate either in countries with middling levels of enforcement of open access policies, or in countries that only effectively implemented open access more recently.

Next-gen NBN would put Singapore in this category. More evidence for a cheaper and better broadband to come?

What do you think?

[lennardseah]

NGNBN will only improve last mile internet access. shouldn't affect prices or international quality much

[teelotes]

Originally Posted by lennardseah

NGNBN will only improve last mile internet access. shouldn't affect prices or international quality much

I was hoping that separating the infrastructure, leasing and retail would make it viable for independent, small consumer ISPs to develop... but if the market share remains status quo among the big 3, then it would very much be as you said.