Globally wireless

In relation to my last post and the absence of and related to some of your blogs, well to Scott's actually who noted he had just got FIOS TV, I wanted to blog about connectivity. I've had FIOS internet for about a year and recently got FIOS TV. While I can live without the TV I have to say that FIOS internet is the best thing ever invented. How I managed without it I just don't know. It's superlatively brilliant. This brings to an interesting point. As you know in England last week I was pushed to find a wireless connection and the concept of FIOS seems to be pretty unheard of. Some time ago I heard a radio programme, (which I'll try and find the trasncript of...found it, here's the transcript), regarding fibre-optic internet - for those of you who don't know this is what FIOS is, Fibre Optic Internet Service. The reporter was talking about it being introduced in Paris. Because of the age of the communciation systems and the wiring throughout the city and in the old houses it's really problematic to install fibre optic. But they've managed it and it's starting to be offered. Meanwhile in England a spokesperson from some government entity responded that it would cost 10 billion GBP to get fibre optics installed to 90% of homes. Currently the UK's leading telecommunications company provides an average speed of 8Mbps. To compare, Verizon FIOS average is 15 / 2 Mbps.