L&D Community Wireless Networking Club

(Part of the Consume Project)

Public Networking Cost Comparisons, Jan 2001

TypeProviderTypical Install Cost(£)Typical Monthly Charges (£)Max. Download Speed Kbit/sec (Likely)Max. Upload Speed Kbit/sec (Likely)Conn. PortTyp. 1-Yr CostTyp. 2-yr Cost
ADSLe.g. BT Open world£176£47512256PCI, USB£740£1304
  " e.g. Inweb£323£116512256PCI, USB£1715£3107
CABLE MODEMe.g. NTL£264
Starter Pack + Cable Modem + Extension Cable + Wiring		£29
NTL Member + Cable Line		51212810baseT£612£960
  " e.g. NTL rent. Min 12mths£25£3951212810baseT£493£961
  " e.g. Telewest (Blue yonder)£59£39500250?PCI£527£995
ISDNe.g. BT Home Highway (single Channel)£79£406464PCI£559£1038
  " (Double Channel)£158£80128128PCI£1118£2077
Satellitee.g. Europe Online~£200£12200033PCI£440£560
MODEM V90Many ISPs£20-£60,
say £40
Assume line exists		Depends on use.
say £20 for Line+Calls		56
(44)		33Serial, ISA, PCI, USB£280£520
WAP PHONE Cell N/W (Mobile)Many Cell Phone Co's£90Depends on use.
Say £20		9.6
14.4		9.6
14.4		none£330£570
CONSUME WIRELESS (Fixed and Mobile)Self-Provided£300£5 say for shared Internet Gateway11000
(5500)		11000
(5500)		PCI, ISA, USB, PCMCIA£360£420
In Future (Next 2-5 years)
VDSLBT?£Expensive£ Expensive6000-250003000-12500?£Exp£Exp
G3 UTMS (Mobile)Cell Phone Co'sSpecial 'Phone£ Expensive*384??£Exp*£Exp*
G3 UTMS (Fixed)Cell Phone Co'sTransceiver£ Expensive*2000??£Exp*£Exp*

*Expensive because the companies have got to get a return on the £85Billon they paid in licences.

Some figures taken from .NET Magazine (Jan 2001).

It is assumed that users have a computer (except for the WAP phone). The cost of that is not included. It is common for some types of connection to require higher spec. computers (e.g. necessary to run bloated IE5 and/or mandate running at higher resolution graphics, effectively costing about an extra £60).

Obviously cost is not the only factor.

  • CABLE MODEMS are only available in areas where cable has been laid. Fortunately they are available throughout Luton, and so may be useful for CONSUME users as a gateway to the Internet. Extra cable TV channels and phone line are included in the package.
  • ADSL is only available in major cities at present (excluding Luton).
  • SATELLITE is good for big downloads but has distance related delays for interactive use.
  • CONSUME is only available in London EC2 (but is likely to spread rapidly depending on interest). It is still under development and is experimental. Its software is incomplete. Shared Connection to the Internet is legally problematical.
  • WAP Phone does not provide proper Internet (with web and multimedia) access.

    Readers comments/experiences are welcome.

    For Further Details, Luton Local Contact is: Paul Clarke
    Tel: 01582 508616

    30 Nov 01