All this talk about net neutrality has got me thinking about how much a free market actually does to keep price competitive, especially with all the monopolies that telecommunication companies have all over the world.

I currently pay $40 USD a month for 200Mbps fibre internet, home line with free local calls and a "slightly" unreliable IPTV. And more for cable TV obviously. I could have 1 Gbps for the same price without IPTV but no switching mobile phones every year. So how much do you pay for your internet? I live in Singapore BTW and I feel so bad about complaining right now...

Actually I just want to give away a copy of Contrast but need a reason to open a thread. LVL 1 and above only though.

Edit: Over sorry.

P.S. Obligatory John Oliver video. That man's a genius.

9 years ago*

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Do you feel ripped off by your telco/carrier?

View Results
Yes
No
Maybe

ARE YOU SINGAPOREAN?

9 years ago
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Yep.

9 years ago
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You using Singtel? I have the same plan as yours, including yearly handset upgrades too but at 50 USD and 500 Mbps.

9 years ago
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Just wondering, is Singtel any good? Cuz for Starhub I wouldnt say its any good after using the same plan for quite some time. Then again the one I have is around S$20 to S$40 for 100Mbps (unclear cuz im no the one paying for it)

9 years ago
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You must be using the 100 MB/sec cable plan.

So far so good for me. Torrent and downloading from Steam are all fine. I can get around 8 MB/sec. Sometimes 10 MB/sec.

No complaints after using Starhub for so many years. The service is reliable and online 24/7 except for the fire at Singtel exchange at Bukit Panjang last year.

9 years ago
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You might be right about my plan. Thats good to hear another side of what I experienced so far. Im not sure why my connection always cuts out at least 2 times a day at different times. I think mine's maxonline premium or something, but I can't find much info on it on their site cuz they seem to take it off once its no longer provided for new sign ups

Can't wait till this contact ends then perhaps I could look at the fibre plans, so I could change the old set up I have that might be causing my problems. Heard fibre is really good, but thats one SIngtel's side though.

9 years ago
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My experience with Singtel has had a few hipcups last year due to a faulty router, but after I contacted them and changed it, I have been receiving good speeds and reliable connection. It nice to play on US server with a below 20 ping and download Steam games at a solid 25 Mbps.

Used to be a Starhub customer and was not happy with their service, speed and reliability. I used to had a cable, line (Both land and mobile) and broadband plan with them and yet received subpar service. Switched to Singtel fibre plans and have not considered switching to any other telco since.

For further info, I used Starhub and Singtel at Jurong West, has since moved to Woodlands and only used Singtel. Telco companies tend to have different performance at different areas, so you might want to ask anyone living around you about the performance.

9 years ago
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I've got a bundle through Comcast. They suck but I don't have any alternatives for decent internet connection.

9 years ago
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this is what i have, and it costs $180 a month. its getting annoying but there is no other internet in my area that has 100mb/s speed

9 years ago
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Ditto... Comcast is the only provider in most areas that offers anything over 30mb/s and I think the only one that goes up to 100mb/s

9 years ago
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Same here. Moved away from a Charter area, now I'm with Comcast. The internet portion of my bundle is $45 for 50 mbps, but would be more if I didn't have TV and will be more when the introductory period is over. And over the weekend, I was only getting 0.6 mbps. Joy.

9 years ago
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$55/mo for 6Mbps ATT U-verse. Sucks. Max speed on the line is 24Mbps for like $80-90/month.

But have no other option in this neighborhood. And I live in a major US city.

9 years ago
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Charter is also in the area with a minimum speed of 60 Mbps for about the same price.

10x the speed for the same price, but I can't get it in my neighborhood. Garbage.

9 years ago
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That is what I have for $40 a month is 60Mbps from Charter. There is fiber somewhere around me, but it hasn't been installed to the homes yet.

*edit is actually $45.26 for this Charter Spectrum 60Mbps per month. Non bundled, I don't have any TV service nor phone.

9 years ago*
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I get 4G LTE service here at 35/Mbps, 6x faster than my home connection. I'd get way faster speeds paying for an Unlimited data plan and using my phone as a tether, but I don't trust it from a reliability aspect.

9 years ago
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Yea I used to tether my iPhone 3G (AT&T Unlimited plan) and it was really unreliable for an actual constant connection.
But things may have changed in the past few years. I did recently have a nice Windows Phone, but yea.
Not sure, as I gave up on trying to maintain a functioning smartphone that isn't smashed from my hands and frustrations with them.

9 years ago
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I loved having charter could change my ip as much as I wanted Had good internet for a decent price

Moved and all we can get here is AT&T cant change ip at all (unless i pay extra for 5,10,15,20 ips that I can switch between) highest in 24Mbps in my area which was the lowest charter had!

9 years ago
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This is what pisses me off. The companies have their own little "turf" were they won't compete with each other in major cities. Like a gentleman's agreement or something. They sign deals with the city that prevents other companies for using such and such areas. That's how it was in Tucson. Centurylink, Cox, and Comcast all served their own little areas.

9 years ago
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WHAT!? But... how? WHY? Thats horrible man, i feel for you.

9 years ago
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6megabits? Well, that sux indeed.
I pay 63RON (14euro) for 200Mbps internet and cable...

9 years ago
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21 usd / month, home phone line + ADSL 1 (down: 15.2mbps; up 1mbps)

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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I got some recontract offer from Singtel, so slightly cheaper, plus I want to change my mobile phone every year so end up with Fibre bundle.

Still need Starhub for cable TV though.

9 years ago
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16 usd/300hours 8Mbps

9 years ago
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$35 USD for 2 Mbps broadband. The Internet connection in Argentina is one of the worst in the world.

9 years ago*
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Sounds better than the 'up to' 1.5MB/s [when nobody else is connected] 'rural broadband' I'm stuck with. The kicker? I'm supposedly in a first world country. Also, we pay about CAD$46.95 for THAT.

9 years ago
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I know that feel.
ESP: Mi situación es la misma ^_^

9 years ago
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We pay around $100 a month for basic cable and 5 Mbps / 1 Mbps . That's third world for you my friends. I can't really say that our ISP is ripping us off, mainly because it's a general issue in the country. We use the most expensive but most reliable ISP, others go around $80 for the same bandwith and no cable.

9 years ago
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Which country is that, if I may ask? Just for reference.

9 years ago
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Costa Rica

9 years ago
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I have AT&T and we're paying $40 a month for 1.5 mbps download speed and most of the time we do not even get that speed. We also have about four different hours throughout the day where the internet is pretty much unusable because we are disconnecting for extremely long periods. These disconnects always happen at the same time everyday and when we called AT&T over to try to fix this problem, they sent a guy to basically tell us it was our fault and then he charged us a visitation fee when he did not even try to diagnose the problem at all. The only reason why I am still using AT&T is because they are the only ISP in my area.

I guess I feel a bit cheated.

9 years ago
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I'm paying11$ per month for 100 mbit unlim and I feel that I'm being scammed, because that same company has different packages that are cheaper, but has the same speed plus free TV.

9 years ago
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is you mean $11 for 100mbit then yea you are getting scammed, thats not even 1mb, bits are way smaller

if you mean $11 for 100mb then i hate you and wish i could get a deal like that, i have to pay 180 bucks for 100mb

9 years ago
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1 byte = 8 bits, so 100Mbit = 12.5MB (megabytes)

9 years ago
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we are paying around 65 for 10gig cap a month for satellite and your fussing over 11 bucks for 12.5mb

all i get is 1.5 mega bytes though i do get to use as much bandwidth as i want from midnight to 5am

and pretty much all online gaming is a no go

but i like being in the country where i can play my games and music as loud as i want and if i want i can sit outside nakkid as woods surround me.

9 years ago
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You have high prices because you have high salaries.

9 years ago
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I hate when people use this argument because you forget about cost of living.
People in countries that get paid "high salaries" have "higher bills" too.

For example: someone may get paid $3,000 a month, and their morgage+electric+water+food+taxes every month is = $3,000
compared to: someone may get paid $500 a month, and their morgage+electric+water+food+taxes every month is = $500

Just because a country may get better average salaries then another country, does not mean those people are better off.

9 years ago
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Aww, again. Lets say you have a salary of 3000 and you spend 90% of it on bills and food, and I have a salary of 500 and also spend 90% of it on bills and food. We both are left with 10% of our salaries on our hands to spend on stuff we want. This means you have 300 on your hands while I have only 50 even though food and rent is cheaper here. Feeling the difference now?

9 years ago*
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It should be around 12.5 mb/s but usually I'm not getting more than 8-10. I see 12 only inside the country.

Anyway, may I ask what is the average salary in your area? Because our average salary is around 250$ so you can say it costs 5% of it in this area. Also, our country is very small (only 34.000 sq km) so obviously our internet will be cheap and good.

9 years ago
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Well i would not assume about high salary we have plenty of poor here and homeless just like every other country.

Min. Wage is 7.25 so if i was to make that i would have to work about 9 hours to pay for that on full day and that is without taxes.58 dollars is what you would make per day before taxes.

Now you factor in the average rent for this area which is 500 a month that does not leave much left over for other stuff.I get even less then that as i am disabled and only get around 700 a month i have to give up things to have high speed like no cable.Luckily steam has decent sales for bundle games and those who drop keys and share and bing rewards and such so i can do the gaming i do.I save a bit of cash for each big sale so i can add to it.

All i am saying is do not assume because someone is from a rich country they have it easy,and not everyone from a 3rd world is dirt poor farmer t hey have rich people and middle class.It is up to each person to better there life if they choose to live the life they do that is that,but if it takes working 3 jobs and 70 hours a week to better your they should try but some people are happy being a farmer even if it means being poor,.

I must add life is also not about how rich you are,you can have all the money you ever need,but be poor in the soul.As money does not make you happy

9 years ago*
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welp, i have a master's degree in engineering and still making only 250$/mo working full time. why i assume 1st world countries have it better: percentage of money you have after paying taxes/food etc. Say we both have same job and same education and we have 5 or 10 percent of what we earned during month on our hands after spending the rest on daily necesseties. I'm guessing that in several months you'll be able to get a fine guitar or a decent amount of console games. or you can save up for a year and travel somewhere. also, we depend on usd too much which is on the rise now, everything here gets more and more expensive and i'm watching every day how my salary shrinks =\

i agree that ultimately money can't buy happiness, but they certanly help in the search of it.

9 years ago*
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We can agree we both do not have a lot of money.

How could i afford a fine guitar or console games if i have to skip having cable just to have internet? I have to use steam sales and bundles to get most of my games,i am only able to save a bit of money for the big sales i am talking about a max of 15-20 bucks pretty much i save 2 or 3 bucks a month for that.If rent is 500 and i get 700 a month do the math,that still does not cover electric,gas,food,clothing.I do not even have 10% of what i get left over.

Bottom line is pointing out that someone has it better then you then you need to stop worrying about others and do for yourself.
You can easily find other ways to better your life work more,get another job,there is much people can do but it just easier to say it is not.

I wish i could do more i do not like having the income i do but i do not have a choice in being sick.

Things here are not cheap despite what people may think even a cheap pair of shoes is 15-20 bucks.

9 years ago
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You missed the " Say we both have same job and same education" part. I was only comparing people with the identical capabilities. Your case is an exception and it's true that being different makes it harder to get the same stuff.

And our cheapest shoes are also start from ~20 usd, isn't that weird? D:

9 years ago
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lol that is a bit weird maybe they come from the same place?

Either way we both feel we are paying to much for internet and shoes :)

9 years ago
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my roommate pays for the internet :3

9 years ago
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Around 40 USD after converting, for up to 5 Mbps, fixed line and IPTV.

9 years ago
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Total? 418$/month

9 years ago
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does this include your own satellite?

9 years ago
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Wait what?? Are you running an office off of that plan?

9 years ago
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You must be in USA like me!
If you only have one isp provider in your area, they can charge you whatever they want.

*throws oddllama a few dollar bills

That indie game download is on me

9 years ago
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40$ for 15 Mbps Fiber-optic, it's the best option here :/

9 years ago
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Speed : Up to 1 Mbps
Contract : 1 month
Downloads : Limited ( 10 GB ) !
Monthly cost : 12 $

9 years ago*
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Dude I live in a shitty third world country and not even my internet is as bad as that.

9 years ago
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Yeah ! sounds like unbelievable ! but it is a true story m8 ! living in a third world country like as mine is like a torture everyday !

9 years ago*
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I thought living in north africa was shitty enough

9 years ago
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Wha... :o What year do you live in?

9 years ago
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We are actually living in Middle Ages ( Compare to other countries situations from the perspective of economical situation or Human rights or everything ! )

9 years ago
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Ouch, that really sucks :/

9 years ago
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same problem and same country !

9 years ago
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same country

speed : 1Mbps unlimited

monthly cost: 10.5$

9 years ago
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$55 / month for "up to 12 Mbps" ... definitely getting ripped off

9 years ago
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We had 55mb down, 10mb up with a 275GB cap for ~$87 CAD. We recently switched to 55mb down, 10mb up with no data cap for ~$79. It's still pretty expensive, but it is better.

9 years ago
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Xfinity combo deal of 50mpbs dl, 5mbps ul plus home phone and basic cable for me is like $102 a month

9 years ago
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once your deal ends it will be like 180 lol, cuz thats what i have and what we pay

9 years ago
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Thats when I usually tell them to shove it and that Im switching companies, so they give me a new deal. I still hate them

9 years ago
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50$ (R$ 110) phone line+internet. 2 Mbps download, 500Kbps upload. Brazil internet sucks.

9 years ago
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Yeah :/

9 years ago
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$80/month, unlimited, but slow as shit.
But since it's unlimited, I'll just be happy with what I have...

9 years ago
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40 usd for 20/2mb connection.

9 years ago
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I don't pay for my internet now because I work for my ISP , but when I still paid for it , it cost me something like 10€/month for 50mbps(inside country 100mbps) with no limitations.

9 years ago
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I have a local cellular wireless ISP, paying 18 $ for 20 Mbit download and 5 Mbit upload (unlimited).

9 years ago
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I think mine is $40/month for 30Mbps

9 years ago
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$60 usd/month for 55mbps dl / 6mbps up, I also get free basic cable. All the other competitors offer slower rates or aren't available in my area =/

9 years ago
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