Posted 2 years ago
VeteranSatUser, Champion
VeteranSatUser, Champion
Brad, Viasat Employee
Exede shouldn't even be offered in a metro area.
Bev, Champion
I assume it's offered because there are people just barely off the fiber grid there that can't get any other internet, or dialup is the only alternative. I know of a lot of customers like that, just a tiny bit too far from the lines to get any other high speed internet service.
Brad, Viasat Employee
That's correct fmj77! Largely we don't see customers in those areas but we are seeing some business accounts and new developments that haven't been wired get the service but usually the same beam that has like Atlanta or Orlando or somewhere like that covers an area that as Bev pointed out lie right out of reach of DSL or Cable. So like the Gentleman that posted the original question the results he got for an Orlando zip cod is for the beam rather than the Orlando downtown metro area.
The zip code is downtown MCO??
Dennis,
To clarify plan, availability and pricing depend on the service area not the ZIPCode (spot beam coverage area).
Orlando was used for reference to find the spot beam. It falls in the beam 359 area, whch covers a large portion of central Florida including the highly populated I-4 corridor. Demand for satellite internet in that service area is likely lower due to other more viable land based options.
To clarify plan, availability and pricing depend on the service area not the ZIPCode (spot beam coverage area).
Orlando was used for reference to find the spot beam. It falls in the beam 359 area, whch covers a large portion of central Florida including the highly populated I-4 corridor. Demand for satellite internet in that service area is likely lower due to other more viable land based options.
(Edited)
Diana, Viasat Employee
Hi Old Labs, Thanks for the information on the beams and coverage area!
So can u tell me what spot beam for me in NC?
You can eyeball it for yourself at:
https://www.northlc.com/_images/beam_priority_map.png
Might be difficult due to the large overlap of beams in NC.
Looks like NC is covered by 5 different ones. But perhaps a moderator could provide the exact one based on a ZIPCode.
Basically what it comes down to is 72 different markets (spot beams) each having the same supply (capacity). While total capacity is 140 Gbps, that's equally split across 72 different beams.
P.S. Check that... make it 6 different ones - missed that small 344 area in NC ;)
https://www.northlc.com/_images/beam_priority_map.png
Might be difficult due to the large overlap of beams in NC.
Looks like NC is covered by 5 different ones. But perhaps a moderator could provide the exact one based on a ZIPCode.
Basically what it comes down to is 72 different markets (spot beams) each having the same supply (capacity). While total capacity is 140 Gbps, that's equally split across 72 different beams.
P.S. Check that... make it 6 different ones - missed that small 344 area in NC ;)
(Edited)
I'm in 335 beam of nc
VeteranSatUser, Champion
Steve Frederick-VS1/Beam314, Champion
In my area of upstate New York, the cable/internet companies were give very large monetary grants to expand their service area to cover the forgotten or ignored rural areas surrounding their service area. What they chose to do with all that money was to upgrade their cables and support equipment to change the same geographical areas from the 15 Mbps internet to 100 Mbps, and some areas to 300 Mbps. No additional areas were given service, only improved service to the same areas that already had broadband internet. I am a mere mile from the end of the cable that serves my locality. Unfortunately the government again failed to put strong stipulations on how the grant money could be spent, so the taxpayers in the rural areas are once again left without a ground based internet connection.
Thank you Exede for serving those of us who enjoy country living.
Thank you Exede for serving those of us who enjoy country living.
Bev, Champion
Here, those funds went to New Wave and Windstream - new providers of wireless internet that still doesn't serve rural areas, just the suburban areas a few blocks outside of the reach of fiber or DSL, plus the urban areas of course.
If not for Viasat, I'd be stuck with HughesNet - YUCK, I've never liked any of their plans and, back when I got WildBlue (before it was Viasat) HugheNet wasn't even available here.
If not for Viasat, I'd be stuck with HughesNet - YUCK, I've never liked any of their plans and, back when I got WildBlue (before it was Viasat) HugheNet wasn't even available here.
Spot beams vs zip codes, you say tomato I say tomatoe, I get it but to get you close without wipping out the old GPS it boils down to the same thing.
Plans really shouldn’t be based on what neck of the woods you live in. Give everyone 150 G for the same cost. If Exede doesn’t have the capacity then just limit the number of customers on the plan , but charging more for the same plan, you won’t convince me that, that is fair.
You can try, what is the basis? No Mumbo Jumbo please.
Plans really shouldn’t be based on what neck of the woods you live in. Give everyone 150 G for the same cost. If Exede doesn’t have the capacity then just limit the number of customers on the plan , but charging more for the same plan, you won’t convince me that, that is fair.
You can try, what is the basis? No Mumbo Jumbo please.
My zip is 28779
johhnyc (assuming you're talking to me - it's hard to tell),
Supply vs. Demand - no mumbo, no jumbo. 72 different markets (demand) each having the same supply (just about 2 Gbps capacity on each).
Not defending it, just pointing out the rationale and fairness will likely be determined whether you're a capitalist or socialist in terms of economics - that's your choice, your vote.
Leading us right back to VeteranSatUser's original reply - let's go round one more time - all my lifes a circle - with all due respect to the late, great Harry Chapin ;)
Supply vs. Demand - no mumbo, no jumbo. 72 different markets (demand) each having the same supply (just about 2 Gbps capacity on each).
Not defending it, just pointing out the rationale and fairness will likely be determined whether you're a capitalist or socialist in terms of economics - that's your choice, your vote.
Leading us right back to VeteranSatUser's original reply - let's go round one more time - all my lifes a circle - with all due respect to the late, great Harry Chapin ;)
(Edited)
Steve Frederick-VS1/Beam314, Champion
So according to johhnyc's theory of economics, then gasoline. food products, housing, and everything should be priced the same all across the country.
VeteranSatUser, Champion
In defense of Johnnyc, it is hard to explain the pricing to an average consumer who doesn't understand the nuances of how satellite works. I mean if you buy Directv for instance, it us priced the same across the country. Even those are both satellite based systems, there is a lot of differences between them.
If you will notice in my first post i said, "It is just business", that should clear up any question as to my thoughts on economics, supply and demand, profit and loss, capitalism vs socialism etc. I thought that was fairly obvious.
Steve, I am familiar with why consumer products normally vary in price across this Great Nation of Ours, and i think you and the rest of our esteemed forum colleagues are as well. So please lets not talk about the cost of tea in china etc.
Old Labs, no i wasn't referring to you with my Mumbo Jumbo comment. I was actually hoping for a specific list of why it cost more than two times as much to deliver the same service to different states or different parts of a state, different "beams" etc.
Now Brad's comment "Our prices have always been determined by location and availability. It's much like how we were able to offer Freedom in the less busy beams compared to the higher concentrated beam.
Is probably closest to Exede's ,management philosophy, what ever that really is:
My interpretation is, hey guys we got a lot of folks that need our service in this area so this is our lucrative market, so we can charge higher prices there, capitalism? Maybe, or maybe price gouging. Remember 70 dollars vs 150 for the exact same service. Maybe Exede has more costs in certain areas, do they, i don't know why i asked What is the Basis, no mumbo jumbo please.
You may all give Exede a pass on there pricing structure, I won't.
Let Exede respond and list the additional costs to provide the same service.
At this point I think they do because they can.
Fairness in this context really has nothing to do with Socialism vs Capitalism, think about why you buy something from one store vs another, even if the item is the same price. You probably feel that there is a management attitude that you will be treated fairly, with returns, price matching etc.
Hopefully being treated fairly is alive in well in a capitalistic society.
OK enough of my rambling.
Exede let's see the costs associated with providing the silver plan in Orlando verses the cost associated with providing the same plan in the Tar Heel State, NC.
Steve, I am familiar with why consumer products normally vary in price across this Great Nation of Ours, and i think you and the rest of our esteemed forum colleagues are as well. So please lets not talk about the cost of tea in china etc.
Old Labs, no i wasn't referring to you with my Mumbo Jumbo comment. I was actually hoping for a specific list of why it cost more than two times as much to deliver the same service to different states or different parts of a state, different "beams" etc.
Now Brad's comment "Our prices have always been determined by location and availability. It's much like how we were able to offer Freedom in the less busy beams compared to the higher concentrated beam.
Is probably closest to Exede's ,management philosophy, what ever that really is:
My interpretation is, hey guys we got a lot of folks that need our service in this area so this is our lucrative market, so we can charge higher prices there, capitalism? Maybe, or maybe price gouging. Remember 70 dollars vs 150 for the exact same service. Maybe Exede has more costs in certain areas, do they, i don't know why i asked What is the Basis, no mumbo jumbo please.
You may all give Exede a pass on there pricing structure, I won't.
Let Exede respond and list the additional costs to provide the same service.
At this point I think they do because they can.
Fairness in this context really has nothing to do with Socialism vs Capitalism, think about why you buy something from one store vs another, even if the item is the same price. You probably feel that there is a management attitude that you will be treated fairly, with returns, price matching etc.
Hopefully being treated fairly is alive in well in a capitalistic society.
OK enough of my rambling.
Exede let's see the costs associated with providing the silver plan in Orlando verses the cost associated with providing the same plan in the Tar Heel State, NC.
VeteranSatUser, Champion
The cost of delivery is the same in both locations. That has nothing to do with the pricing. Do they make more from a Silver sub in one beam in NC vs. Orlando? Yes they do. However, they don't have as many Silver subs to sell in N.C., so they are sold at a premium.
For the record, I don't think it is a good marketing strategy for Viasat to have variable pricing based on location. Unlike some of your geographic examples, in theory you could have one person paying $100 for Silver, with his neighbor down the road paying $150 for the same plan, all because one neighbor is on one beam and the other neighbor is on another beam. I live on a beam edge. How do explain people in the eastern half of the county paying $50 more/month than those living in the western half? Just not a good look.
I think Viasat would be better served to level the prices. Everybody pay a set price, regardless of location, simply because your average consumer is not going to understand the variable pricing and the reasons for it.
For the record, I don't think it is a good marketing strategy for Viasat to have variable pricing based on location. Unlike some of your geographic examples, in theory you could have one person paying $100 for Silver, with his neighbor down the road paying $150 for the same plan, all because one neighbor is on one beam and the other neighbor is on another beam. I live on a beam edge. How do explain people in the eastern half of the county paying $50 more/month than those living in the western half? Just not a good look.
I think Viasat would be better served to level the prices. Everybody pay a set price, regardless of location, simply because your average consumer is not going to understand the variable pricing and the reasons for it.
(Edited)
Concur that a level pricing plan would be best and if they don't have enough bandwidth to offer the premium plan in some areas than forgo it until they have the resources. Because other than their take on supply and demand, the price difference is not justifiable.
OK, that does it... eveyone get's charged the higher price!
Careful what you wish for ;)
The optics are bad but as you note it's business. Right now, I feel it's just a fire sale on excess bandwidth going on until Viasat-2 is up an running - I really cant recall any substantial price differences between the same plans like this in the past. Availability yes, but price no (although perhaps a few)
Wouldn't be surprised if it's simply a year end-inventory clearance before next years model is released and the old models are perceived as less valuable and everyone wants the new model.
They're just trying to attract new customers and retain existing customers while waiting - it's all they've got until then.
P.S. Only a level pricing model would be fair on ViaSat-2 as I understand it. Unlike ViaSat-1, it supposedly will allow shifting unused capacity between beams - or at least that's the implication in some of the press releases.
Take none of it seriously or as an affront, we all are asking questions that aren't going to be answered anyway - but speculation can be fun.
Cue outrage from those paying $50 less and disagreeing with my opening sentence in 3, 2, 1...
Careful what you wish for ;)
The optics are bad but as you note it's business. Right now, I feel it's just a fire sale on excess bandwidth going on until Viasat-2 is up an running - I really cant recall any substantial price differences between the same plans like this in the past. Availability yes, but price no (although perhaps a few)
Wouldn't be surprised if it's simply a year end-inventory clearance before next years model is released and the old models are perceived as less valuable and everyone wants the new model.
They're just trying to attract new customers and retain existing customers while waiting - it's all they've got until then.
P.S. Only a level pricing model would be fair on ViaSat-2 as I understand it. Unlike ViaSat-1, it supposedly will allow shifting unused capacity between beams - or at least that's the implication in some of the press releases.
Take none of it seriously or as an affront, we all are asking questions that aren't going to be answered anyway - but speculation can be fun.
Cue outrage from those paying $50 less and disagreeing with my opening sentence in 3, 2, 1...
(Edited)
Stephen Rice, Champion
I'm all for prices staying the same. I don't mind Yankees paying a lot more than me so I can enjoy the price of $60.99 a month for my Liberty 12 plan.
VeteranSatUser, Champion
Old Labs. As always you have good insight. But expect Viasat to have a surprise or two with what Viasat-2 will offer :).