AT&T and Verizon to Use Variable Pricing for 4G Data Pla

Osage4g · 4G Fledgling Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Posts: 11

In all due respects, some sort of rationing of 3G and 4G is inevitable. Sadly the amount of wireless spectrum is finite, as it is. the cell phone industry is trying to steal even more spectrum reserved for OTA television, and across various companies, devices designed for one carrier do not work on another carriers frequency.

Even though 4G may offer better efficiencies than 3G, its already clear that our wireless spectrum is already almost overused. As it is average American wireless spectrum use has already hit 15 gBtyes/month.

Worse yet, with everyone and their brother law trying to over sell various always on smart phone devices, the use of the wireless spectrum is expected to double in the next two years. And thereafter it will likely double again.

So maybe its time to ask, what is the wireless spectrum good for.

1. Its certainly good at making mobile telephone calls. But even under existing carriers, we are talking about $100.00 a month to get unlimited
use. After all, one can spend only so many hours a day on the phone.

2. 3G evdo is supposed to be intended for mobile internet access. But because people like me in rural areas can't get any wired broadband options due to the irresponsibility of telco's, I submit that class of people should have some subsidized right to the 3or 4G spectrum. And many of us are already capped at 5 GB, which is only a third of the national average.

3. Then we have the new spectrum HOG on the block, the smart phone. Wonderful and useful, but its really the mass over usage usage of those always on of those TOYS that will bust the wireless spectrum bank. And coming soon, will come the day when we can watch television, play any music, while such devices check for emails and text messages. In short,
THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH WIRELESS SPECTRUM IN THE UNIVERSE TO FEED THEM ALL.

And at the end of the day there will be one of three ways to conserve the wireless spectrum.

1. Some sort of rationing system. Not easy to implement as everyone will claim they have no access to infinite wired spectrum while buying multiple devices to make up for the shortfall.

2. Let the law of supply and demand set the price to the delight of cell phone companies, as only the very rich will be able to afford the monthly fees that result.

3. Let the present trends continue, as the overuse of the wireless spectrum gets to a point where the devices no longer work with any semblance of reliability. Even a simply wireless conversation will become impossible as packets are delayed and lost. And forget anything that takes more bandwidth.

Step right up and take your choice.