I’m not entirely upset at this. It seems like any advances in computing and network speed these days are used as an excuse to collect more data and make software more inefficient. Also from a global warming perspective, if you’re into that, it may be time we start looking at things from a sufficiency standpoint rather than efficiency.
From a global warming perspective, I’m pretty sure fiber is actually the best because it requires less power than any sort of radio, particularly satellite (starlink or whatever). For wired alternatives, you have copper which is a very useful and expensive metal, which would be put to better use elsewhere. It’s great for transmitting electricity and heat, just not as great for data.
Fiber optics are as close to magic as we can get in data transmission. There are very few downsides.
Plus the data will be collected anyway. The guys running all the services you connect to have their own fiber. AWS and the like roll out their own intercontinental fiber even. The only question is whether American citizens would be entitled to high quality Internet service that they already paid for over 20 years ago or whether it’s time to forget all that and settle for less.
I’m not entirely upset at this. It seems like any advances in computing and network speed these days are used as an excuse to collect more data and make software more inefficient. Also from a global warming perspective, if you’re into that, it may be time we start looking at things from a sufficiency standpoint rather than efficiency.
From a global warming perspective, I’m pretty sure fiber is actually the best because it requires less power than any sort of radio, particularly satellite (starlink or whatever). For wired alternatives, you have copper which is a very useful and expensive metal, which would be put to better use elsewhere. It’s great for transmitting electricity and heat, just not as great for data.
Fiber optics are as close to magic as we can get in data transmission. There are very few downsides.
Plus the data will be collected anyway. The guys running all the services you connect to have their own fiber. AWS and the like roll out their own intercontinental fiber even. The only question is whether American citizens would be entitled to high quality Internet service that they already paid for over 20 years ago or whether it’s time to forget all that and settle for less.