Do Globe Writers Even Read Their Own Paper?

The Globe and Mail, 9/16/2005 4:39 PM:

The demonstration showed WiMax can fulfill at least some of its many promises.

It's been hyped as an affordable way to bring the Internet to poorer and rural regions around the world, break the broadband duopoly of cable and phone companies and eventually cover entire countries with seamless high-speed Internet access for viewing video, making phone calls and completing other data-intensive tasks.

The Globe and Mail, 9/16/2005 12:03 PM:

Bitter rivals Rogers Communications Inc. and Bell Canada have agreed to jointly build and manage a wireless high-speed Internet network that is expected to reach more than two-thirds of Canadians in less than three years.

The two communications companies will pool their wireless broadband spectrum into a joint venture called Inukshuk Internet Inc. The network will cover more than 40 cities, and 50 rural and remote communities across the country. Users will be able to access the Internet and use voice, video streaming and data applications both inside their home, as well as on the go.

Oh yes. Wireless technology will break the Cable/Phone duopoly. Absolutely. Morons.

The only way we'll ever get serious competition for the Internet in this country is when we elect a government that's serious about forcing open the two monopolies. Technically, Bell is still (I believe) bound by common-carrier rules, whereas Rogers isn't. "Common carrier" means that a major network owner is required - for a profitable fee - to allow outsiders to use it's network. For example, Bell is required to let competitors use it's phone lines, provided they pay. It's illegal for Bell to ban paying competitors from its lines. Both companies need to be bound by the same rules, and that means we need to force open the cable lines in this country. Japan did this, and you can reliably get speeds from 40-100mbps there, compared to a maximum of 5 from Rogers.

Meanwhile, my mother has just moved in to a part of Ottawa that, for some reason, cannot get access to either DSL or Cable. It's like she's living in the dark ages or something.

Oh, and as much as I like the idea of a nationwide wireless internet, Bell and Rogers should be forbidden from owning it. Rather, the government should build and operate it. That would actually serve to break up the duopoly in this country.