An impressive number of rural Sask residents either have access to 3G Wireless or soon will. There are "75.00 dollar" Mobile Data Internet Plans that are advertised as "unlimited data"
In regards to the Internet Stick; which I understand is a modem that can provide Wireless internet service to a compatible 3G router that can wirelessly serve your LAN computers and devices within range:
In my opinion these combinations of hardware and internet service plans could be the solution to bringing telecommunication needs and internet services near the levels enjoyed by more populated areas of our province.
However there are potential disturbing clauses in the Terms of Usage that could cripple full use of most potential applications; especially with the "unlimited data" plans. I suspect this could potentially occur whenever (and if ever) the provider (Sasktel) choses to enforce the terms of the agreements.
If Sasktel forced full compliance with every customers acceptance of the Terms of Use; there is no streaming of radio or television feeds allowed; no UTube video; no connection to Skype or magicjack; no downloading any music or television, sports, movies etc; no P2P sharing or downloading; no "Rapidshare type monkey business"; no GPS base station correction data; no automated data relaying; and an absolute limit of 7 GB per month. Thats a couple of Blue-Ray (high definition) movies which might take 10 minutes at a 7MB/sec download rate that reports say is available with the "awesome" 3G wireless capabilities (in fact there is a theoretical 21 MB/ sec maximum capacity for future expansion.}
SO WHAT IS LEFT
The question is; who needs anything approaching 3G speeds if no one can do anything except access their email; look at crop prices and the weather type web pages and IM (whatever that is; and of course I will find out if it is ever something that fits in with a use for myself). If that were enforced by any ISP in a city; every last subscriber would soon move to an alternative that allowed way more services for lots less money.
To Sasktel's credit (so far); I've not heard of any need for cracking down on users who are not dragging down the level of service to other customers; and who are not consuming bandwidth that impacts others. There aren't any real hints that the vast majority of users are monitored; and Sasktel appears to be working hard to maintain the highest customer saisfaction levels possible. And certainly options must be reserved to deal with those possibilities, but its pretty darn clear what the legal agreements could possibly mean by any company who suddenly didn't care about their customers satisfaction levels.
I'm leaning to outright purchase of an Internet Stick and subscribing on a month to month basis. Afterall; there are several other options out there; including I understand; big boys such as Bell service. Those type options are last resorts; and I hope our phone company treats rural Sask. fairly with this potentially wonderful service.
What are actual user's experiences?
In regards to the Internet Stick; which I understand is a modem that can provide Wireless internet service to a compatible 3G router that can wirelessly serve your LAN computers and devices within range:
In my opinion these combinations of hardware and internet service plans could be the solution to bringing telecommunication needs and internet services near the levels enjoyed by more populated areas of our province.
However there are potential disturbing clauses in the Terms of Usage that could cripple full use of most potential applications; especially with the "unlimited data" plans. I suspect this could potentially occur whenever (and if ever) the provider (Sasktel) choses to enforce the terms of the agreements.
If Sasktel forced full compliance with every customers acceptance of the Terms of Use; there is no streaming of radio or television feeds allowed; no UTube video; no connection to Skype or magicjack; no downloading any music or television, sports, movies etc; no P2P sharing or downloading; no "Rapidshare type monkey business"; no GPS base station correction data; no automated data relaying; and an absolute limit of 7 GB per month. Thats a couple of Blue-Ray (high definition) movies which might take 10 minutes at a 7MB/sec download rate that reports say is available with the "awesome" 3G wireless capabilities (in fact there is a theoretical 21 MB/ sec maximum capacity for future expansion.}
SO WHAT IS LEFT
The question is; who needs anything approaching 3G speeds if no one can do anything except access their email; look at crop prices and the weather type web pages and IM (whatever that is; and of course I will find out if it is ever something that fits in with a use for myself). If that were enforced by any ISP in a city; every last subscriber would soon move to an alternative that allowed way more services for lots less money.
To Sasktel's credit (so far); I've not heard of any need for cracking down on users who are not dragging down the level of service to other customers; and who are not consuming bandwidth that impacts others. There aren't any real hints that the vast majority of users are monitored; and Sasktel appears to be working hard to maintain the highest customer saisfaction levels possible. And certainly options must be reserved to deal with those possibilities, but its pretty darn clear what the legal agreements could possibly mean by any company who suddenly didn't care about their customers satisfaction levels.
I'm leaning to outright purchase of an Internet Stick and subscribing on a month to month basis. Afterall; there are several other options out there; including I understand; big boys such as Bell service. Those type options are last resorts; and I hope our phone company treats rural Sask. fairly with this potentially wonderful service.
What are actual user's experiences?
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