One of the primary reasons why we don’t have a comprehensive 3G offering from the big telcos is because of the problem of 3G network congestion. It’s an undeniable truth that P2P is killing 3G in the Philippines.
Globe Telecom went out with an unlimited Globe Visibility plan about 2 years ago (initially offered as an enterprise product and went commercial in September 2006). Before that PLDT had WeRoam which was a bit cost-prohibitive since the data cards cost over Php10,000 each. There’s an estimated 12,000 WeRoam corporate accounts now and an additional 10,000 Smart Bro accounts in the first quarter the prepaid kits were released.
The natural path would have been for all carriers to offer unlimited 3G plans but the recent announcement that Globe Visibility will no longer offer was a step backward.
Sun Cellular was bold enough to offer a Metro Manila-wide unlimited 3G for Php999. It remains to be seen if there’s enough interest in that offer considering only selected areas in Metro manila is covered by 3G their network. I hope they do so that the other two would offer back unlimited plans.
Smart’s acquisition of CURE allowed them to gain access to additional frequencies they can use to expand their 3G network but we have yet to hear an upgrade or an expansion of the network to provincial areas.
There are 2 options here — provide a fast and consistent yet expensive service OR offer an eat-all-you can but choppy service. Carriers are choosing the former.
I am hoping there could be another option somewhere in between those two. The idea is to partially solve the P2P problem that causes network congestion and still offer a more affordable (or unlimited) broadband service.
- Packet Shaping. Carriers have the capacity to determine and minimize 3G internet traffic coming from specific protocols like BitTorent or other P2P networks. Speeds can be throttled down to de-congest the network and allow more capacity, esp. on peak hours.
- Unlimited Off Peak Access. This was originally introduced in the dial-up segment where usage is free during off peak hours. It’s usually between 12 midnight to 7am. Carriers can do this on top of whatever existing prepaid and postpaid offerings they have now. So if I’m limited to 100 hours a month, I can use that during emergencies and just do of my leisure surfing time during offpeak hours. Just make sure the prepaid users have a minimum load balance before they can connect to avoid freeloaders.
- Bandwidth Capping. Instead of time-charging which they do now, how about capping the total bandwidth? This is done in the hosting industry and also being implemented in so many countries. Give a customer a bandwidth allocation for a month, say 5GB instead of 100 hours. 3G internet isn’t really meant for downloading and online video streaming so for regular surfing and email access, 5GB more than enough. If a subscriber attempts to use it for downloading torrents, I’m sure the 5GB wouldn’t last him a couple of days so that should solve the problem with heavyweight users.
- Graduated Plans. They do this in Singapore — provide various 3G speeds depending on the postpaid plans. Have different pricing schemes for 384Kbps, 512Kbps, 768Kbps and 1Mbps connections.
The goal here is to move 3G usage towards an unlimited offering without compromising quality of connection. I’m sure they’re reading this and hopefully, would reconsider some or a combination of the options I outlined above.
I know that rolling out a nationwide 3G network cost a gazillion of capital. In Europe, it’s been reported that the estimated infrastructure and services cost is about 650 euros (Php43,000) per 3G customer. Pretty expensive, huh?
Going back the question, which compromised solution do you think is more reasonable to the market?
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I agree more on bandwidth capping.
The assumptions that 3G shouldn’t be used for downloading stuff even torrents (how about legal torrents?!) is a wrong premise. Net neutrality and the direct evolution of broadband internet to mobile internet will become a joke if this is the case.
It’s a dangerous suggestion. However, it this is only kept as a transitionary phase to make the mobile internet service consistent then I’m with it. It can give the providers time to upgrade the infrastructure to support broadband quality internet connectivity.
You know how the market is in the Philippines. Once everybody gets used to it, innovation stops for existing providers until a neophyte challenges them. I’d rather like this article not to forget the evolution of mobile internet AND emphasize the suggestions in the article as transitionary, not the end-all solution. My 2 cents
@Rolly – I’m not suggesting P2P to be totally removed from the equation, just “moderated” to acceptable levels.
You think that the current solution of the carriers to do time-based charging instead of the old unlimited option is the right choice? At least only those who really need the 3G network will be the ones who will spend for it and they’ll get the quality speed expected.
Btw, did you know that Philippine ISPs are already doing bandwidth shaping on DSL lines?
nah…3G will go the same way as wired broadband as adoption of wireless broadband increases…natural progression
Yes, I know that local ISPs are doing bandwidth shaping for a few years now – that’s why I’m selective of which one I get for my internet services.
The question now is who regulates their ‘moderation’ controls for bandwidth? They can ultimately decide to drop all P2P throughput to 1KBps if they like.
The timed-charging should have been OK for Globe had they followed the same charging system like Smart. They charge P5/15 mins and per every reconnection while Smart does it P10/30 mins irregardless of how many reconnection. It’s the implementation that is flawed and looks like they just wanted to steal money from those clueless users.
For me, if they can’t do away with implement bandwidth shaping due to infrastructure limitations (heck Comcast and other ISPs in the US face the same problems) they should just put out explicit policies for mobile data plans/policies against P2P but drop the price. You get lesser priviliges for wired broadband connection but get consistent service. End result – consumers know what they are getting for, comes cheaper, ISPs can put the bandwidth shaping infrastructure they want but provide consistent service.
E.g. P500-P1000/month no P2P allowed, unlimited data. I’d probably go for a rate of P700 for mobile internet…but that’s just my preference given the ‘limited’ service – I can do blogging, surfing, downloading thru HTTP/FTP, chat, and email (a normal web surfer profile). If I want P2P then I’d resort to DSL broadband lines at home. It pushes the use of mobile data plans to be used for when you’re actually mobile…not replace your DSL. You don’t do P2P when you’re on the road right? (Of course, some will argue that they don’t have acess in their location but either that or get crappy service?!).
Sorry for the long post Yuga as I just have too many things in my head that I want to make my point clear but I tried to be as concise as possible.
Twitter: ramfree17
replied on Aug 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm (7)
+1 on bandwidth capping but increase the cap. 5GB will roughly translate to 150MB per day. it may sound big enough for the mobile warriors but not so much if you require frequent access to medium-to-heavy sites.
ciao!
why not just implement bandwidth capping peer to peer during peak hours and download all you want during off peak.. but still unlimited connections for normal browsing video streaming etc etc… hybrid of the second and third suggestion… is it possible to identify p2p and regulate it and normal browsing is unlimited?
another question… is peer to peer the only thing that clogs up the network?
Tried in singapore graduated plans. S$4 for 2mb speed/24hrs. and also 7.2 mb. in Dubai its $100/month subscription for 7.2mb. it’s worth the price considering the speed.