Gizmodo: intertubes

1Gbps Fiber-Optic Service Arrives in Japan on October 1

Jack Loftus — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Near-instantaneous porn downloads will soon be possible in Japan thanks to a speedy new, widely available, fiber-optic service from ISP KDDI. The service will offer upload and download speeds (each way) of up to one gigabit per second. The service goes online October 1 for single family homes and low-rise apartment buildings for about $56 a month, and will be considerably higher than the current 100 megabits per second norm most Japanese citizens already enjoy today. If the outcome of the 2008 election doesn't get me to move to another country, these currently untouchable download speeds just might. [Japan Today]

Cows, Farmer's Daughters Get $267 Million Broadband Boost

Jack Loftus — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

If your Internet surfing gets cut constantly because a cow kicked over a lantern and burned down the barn or worse-because you use DSL, help could be on the way. Denver-based Open Range Communications is hoping to eliminate rural DSL Internet surfing with a substantial $267 million loan it received from the Department of Agriculture. The loan is part of the USDA's Rural Development Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, and will provide broadband service in 518 rural areas in 17 states, including Illinois, Alabama, Arkansas and Wisconsin. This is great news and a long time coming for the rural communities of the US because, if anything, they've consistently shown a great thirst for knowledge, science and the unknown. [USDA via GigaOM]

Verizon Launches 20/20 Symmetrical FiOS Service

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:11:23 EDT

Heeding to the usage patterns of ~~BitTorrent users~~ Flickr junkies everywhere, or at least in NY, NJ and Connecticut for the time being, Verizon's rolling out symmetrical FiOS service—20Mbps up and downstream. Available today in those locales and soon in the 13 other states where FiOS is available, the monthly fee will start at $65 a month. According to Verizon's numbers, you'll be able to upload a 3GB "family" video in 20 minutes with the new service. However one might use the newly fattened pipes, there's no question most of us upload more content than ever before, so it's about time services started to catch up with our habits (or other countries). [Verizon]