Survey of Residential Broadband Services

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Survey of Residential Broadband Services

• Presented By John F. Veal, Jr.
• April 27, 2005
• ACSG520
• Dr. Alzoubi

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Sources for Surveys

• Internet service is a lot like cell-phone
  service. Accordingly, massive customer surveys
  are one of the best ways to evaluate Internet
  Service Providers (ISPs).
• J.D. Power and Associates (better known for its
  automobile research) solicited responses from
  over 9500 residential ISP customers, including
  both dial-up and broadband (cable and DSL) users.
  
• PC World, Network World Fusion and PC Magazine
  also survey users to find the best ISP. Consumer
  Reports discusses the perks of switching to
  broadband but doesn't rate providers.

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From CNET

• CNet.com reports that "nearly half (45 percent)
  of homes in the United States now have a
  connection that's faster than dial-up."
• Experts push the benefits of broadband over
  dial-up, and traditional dial-up companies such
  as AOL have added broadband-enhanced features to
  their list of services.
• However, even as more households make the switch,
  experts say dial-up will always have a place in
  the market. Even for broadband customers, dial-up
  is still the most common and convenient way to
  get your e-mail on the road.

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Dial-up vs. Broadband

• Internet service can be classified as dial-up or
  broadband. While most are familiar with dial-up
  technology, broadband may be unfamiliar.
• Broadband is an Internet connection that's always
  'on' and is up to 150 times faster than dialup
  access. As long as your computer is turned on,
  and your modem is functioning, you are connected
  to the Internet. Users do not need to log on or
  off and there's no waiting for access.
• 'Broadband' is an umbrella term which includes
  three different types of access Cable, DSL and
  satellite.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• Services that operate through cable TV wires,
  like Optimum Online, Earthlink cable or Road
  Runner, may be available from your local cable-TV
  company.
• Some broadband cable companies claim to be up to
  150 times faster than dial-up and three times
  faster than DSL, but actual connection speed
  depends on a lot of variables, and such an
  estimate assumes no other users are connected,
  since cable users within a defined area share
  bandwidth.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• Connection rate fluctuates based on the number of
  users, which means speeds can slow during peak
  hours. Realistically, cable speeds are noticeably
  faster than dial-up, most experts say speeds are
  comparable to DSL.
• Besides speed, another advantage to cable is that
  you may receive a discount from your local cable
  company for getting both the cable TV service and
  cable broadband Internet service. Cable broadband
  rates typically range from 45 to 55 before any
  discounts.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology uses
  existing telephone wires without interfering with
  voice service. It depends (among other things) on
  your distance from a telephone company switching
  station.
• Unlike dial-up or cable, the farther away you are
  from the issuing company's central office, the
  spottier your connection. DSL prices are
  competitive with cable prices but you may be able
  to sign up with your local telephone company to
  receive a discount with phone service. If DSL
  isn't yet available in your area, the phone
  company may also provide notification when your
  neighborhood is included in these plans.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• Satellite is the least-used connection for
  residential broadband. But for those living in
  isolated, rural areas with no access to DSL or
  cable, it's the way to go.
• Like satellite TV, satellite Internet requires
  you to attach a dish to your home which absorbs
  broadcasted Internet signals. Monthly fees range
  from 50 to over 100 and that doesn't include
  the hundreds required for hardware.
• In addition, restrictions are placed on the
  amount of bandwidth you can use in a certain
  timeframe. Maximum data transmission speeds are
  around 60Kbps upstream/ 600Kbps downstream.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• So which is better, DSL or cable?
• According to CNet.com editors, cable has the
  edgebut barely, and your decision will start
  with what's available in your area. Your cable TV
  provider can tell you what's available, and with
  which service provider.

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Dial-Up vs. Broadband

• J.D. Power is best known for its car satisfaction
  ratings, but the company has begun to make
  inroads into other industries as well by
  compiling massive customer surveys.
• This press release summarizes the research firm's
  2004 ISP Residential Customer Satisfaction Study
  which, in the dial-up category, is topped by
  Earthlink, Juno/NetZero and ATT Worldnet.
• As for wireless providers, Earthlink takes the
  most votes again, followed by Verizon and Road
  Runner. Results are based on responses from over
  9500 customers.

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Next Generation Broadband Defined

• An optical access network that will connect each
  home using a dedicated fiber optic cable and
  equipment with lasers to send and receive
  information using the Internet protocol (IP) and
  Fast Ethernet.
• A networking transmission standard that provides
  100 Megabits per second (Mbps) of symmetric
  bandwidth.

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Required Hardware

• A network Demarcation Unit that is attached to
  the outside of customers homes, to terminate
  fiber connection.
• Connects to a new Residential Ethernet Gateway
  that is located inside customers homes and
  connects to their PCs and telephones.

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Performance

• The WinFirst service will be 65 times faster than
  typical 1.5 Mbps high-speed connections offered
  today.
• Will enable download of a DVD movie in eight
  minutes.
• Same bandwidth both upstream and downstream will
  enable people to share files directly with each
  other through true peer-to-peer networking.

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Advantages

• No legacy network to upgrade reliability,
  scalability and bandwidth capacity.
• Immune to electromagnetic interference and
  atmospheric conditions.
• Improved Quality of Service.
• High bandwidth in both directions.
• Uses Ethernet technology which is common to
  virtually every PC.

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Disadvantages

• Cost
• Fragile-Microfractures/microbends
• Difficult to splice
• Existing infrastructure

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Technology Leaders

• Corning
• WINfirst-Lucent Technologies
• Verizon
• Ciena
• Nayna Networks

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Class Survey

• Do you have Internet access? (yes, 4 0f 4)
• Who is your ISP provider? (2-SBC,1-AOL,
  1-ComCast)
• Are you satisfied with your ISP provider? (3-Yes,
  1-So So)
• Do you believe high-speed Internet access is
  important? (Yes, 4 of 4) Very important to all
• Do you feel that your type of service is adequate
  for your household? (Yes, 4 of 4) Very adequate.
• Would you change your ISP provider for a cheaper
  fee? (Yes 4 of 4) As long as the service is equal
  or better. Most felt service was over-priced

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Class Survey Results

• The overall response to having high-speed access
  from home was very important.
• All respondents felt the need to have lower
  monthly fees.
• Of the respondents who answered the survey, SBC
  was given the overall highest rating coupled with
  the best performance and service.

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References

• CNet.com
• J.D. Power Associates
• ISP Residential Customer Satisfaction Survey
• Network World Fusion
• PC Magazine/PC World

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Questions/Comments

• Thank You!