ugh.. nevermind.

I've been in the industry since DOCSIS 1.0, and remember how it all changed when 2.0 was released at the same time that Shaw went all in with Terayon. The CATV industry became the data industry at that time, and changed how everything worked in the cable world.

My company created the splices that allow copper to transmit both directions at a high rate of speed. 17 years later we're nothing more than a commodity. But back in the day there was so much money to be made in the upgrading of their systems to RG6, RG11, and modern internals in their passive devices.

For those who don't want to google DOCSIS 3.1, here are the fine points of the technology.

DOCSIS3.1 technology provides significant new value for cable operators and consumers of broadband services including:

1. Speed: Defines support for up to 10 Gbps downstream and up to 1 Gbps upstream network capabilities.
2. Quality of Experience: Utilizes Active Queue Management to significantly reduce network delay as data traffic grows in the home network, dramatically improving responsiveness for applications such as online gaming.
3. Higher Capacity: Enables a significant increase in network capacity with the ability to transmit up to 50 percent more data over the same spectrum, on existing HFC networks.
4. Energy Efficiency: Enhancements to the DOCSIS protocols will increase cable modem energy efficiency.
5. Flexible Migration Strategy: DOCSIS 3.1 modems are designed to co-exist with older versions enabling incremental deployment based on market demand.

The technology basically takes the existing copper network and breaks it down into "lanes" for the data to travel. It uses a queue system to prioritize the data allowing a gb of data to be passed through the same line that at one time could only transmit a max of 20mbs.

DOCSIS 3.1 is cool.

Factor in the speed, the bandwidth cap, and the price that the Big 3 has been charging for a technology has been around for 15+ years with annual raises.

DOCSIS 3.1 wouldn't mean anything in Canada IF affordable (reasonable) internet service cannot be achieved. Based on the current model of how Canadian telecom's operate, a 1Gbps connection with a 10,000GB cap would cost $1000/month (theoretically speaking). Keep in mind that internet prices has NOT decreased, it has ONLY INCREASED yearly for less service.

While it will cost $100/month in Seoul for a 1Gbps connection with unlimited bandwidth.

Technology is irrelevant if the business operating model is shit.

There is a very obvious reason as to why internet is so much more expensive in Canada than say South Korea. South Korea has double our population situated on land mass roughly the size of two Vancouver Islands, it's pretty easy and much cheaper to build that infrastructure.

Also what do you mean by DOCSIS 3.1 not meaning anything in Canada? It's MASSIVE boost to cable infrastructure -- these companies no longer have to spend billions on upgrading their current coaxial network so YOU the consumers can enjoy better services.

Just because 1GB/s connections will cost 500 per month or whatever doesn't mean the user who has a 25 mb/s connection isn't affected by the upgrade in the network -- it means less saturation since the network can sustain much higher bandwidth. Not to mention this will enable 4K television which will be awesome for sports.

I've heard this argument so many times from corporate executives as the primary reason why they're price gouging us. On the other side of the fence, there are plenty of evidence to suggest that this isn't the case and I've stated so many references in other threads to back up my claim, but I won't because this topic has been beaten to death. But yeah, keep believing in corporate canada when their best interest isn't to work for you. ;)

I have a hunch you don't have any references. Also good job acknowledging how wrong and dumb your opinion on DOCSIS 3.1 is ;)

I have a hunch that you work for the telecommunication industry. ;)