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Posted 1 year ago
VeteranSatUser, Champion
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VeteranSatUser, Champion
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Brad, Viasat Employee
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We will have new plans release early next year once ViaSat 2 comes out that might have additional options at different prices.
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Bev, Champion
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Brad, Viasat Employee
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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.

Diana, Viasat Employee
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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 ;)
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So how can Exede get a few customers? Offer a large plan at a price lower than the cable companies cheapest plan. So they get a customers besides the disenfranchised rural customers.
It is just business, yes there is more beam available, because only those without a choice will go SAT.
So Exede has a beam so they offer a bargain price, we who have no choice do not get a bargain price.
Again it's just business.
I've been an advocate for no data limits forever, i hate keeping track of bits and bytes.
Now i am hoping that the prices will come down and moderate a little, we are naturally paying too much for our service, but without a real alternative, like the folks in Orlando and other metropolitan areas have, we just have to pay the price and hope that Exede's new capability (sat 2) will allow them to do the right thing, make it more equitable for all of their customers regardless of zip code.
Exede is on the right path, but lets lower the costs sooner than later.
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VeteranSatUser, Champion
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That map was a joke of course. Said I could get this broadband internet off a WISP, but the map didn't take into account the hill blocking the signal :)
Steve Frederick-VS1/Beam314, Champion
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Thank you Exede for serving those of us who enjoy country living.
Bev, Champion
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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.
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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.
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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 ;)
Steve Frederick-VS1/Beam314, Champion
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VeteranSatUser, Champion
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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
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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.
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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...
Stephen Rice, Champion
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VeteranSatUser, Champion
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