Share Your Broadband With Your Neighbours To Increase Speed A Reality?

The Guardian Technology blog is featuring a story about two companies that are testing wireless systems that will allow groups of neighbours to share their internet connections to achieve higher potential download speeds by utilising multiple connections at a time. 

The services work by adding wireless routers (est. cost $200-300) that make it possible for computers to receive data in parallel from multiple DSL or cable connections.  In flat areas with minimal
obstructions, the system might be able to link homes separated by
several miles, with do-it-yourself installation.

ISPs are going to go crazy if anything like this gets off the ground.  Unless you are constantly doing a lot of downloading most users can survive on a 1Mb connection.  But imagine if on the odd occasion you need to do a big download you could 'burst' your speed to 10-20Mb+?  The savings on your monthly rental would be more than enough to cover the cost of the additional router.

For me, this is just another sign that slowly but surely bandwidth is becoming a commodity.  I think that eventually you will eventually just pay for access to networks based on where you are or what device you are using, as opposed to paying per GB or per minute or based on period of use.

More:  Guardian Blog, Engadget (nifty diagram!)

Read Related Posts

1. AT&T Launches Prepaid Wireless Broadband To Increase User Base
2. Test Your Broadband Speed For Free
3. Virgin Media Need To Change Their Speed Capping Policy
4. Telewest Increase Broadband Speeds To 10Mb (Uncapped) With 50Mb Available In 2007
5. Broadband Speed Test

Subscribe To RSS Feed Updates (What is RSS??)