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Geek Culture / The cost of actually using the internet / mobile data?

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DJ Almix
19
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Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Location: Freedom
Posted: 22nd May 2012 04:26 Edited at: 22nd May 2012 04:49
Recently I've been starting to think about what the charge behind internet services or mobile data is based on. This could be a dumb question, but what exactly is the cost of using the internet making a profit aside?

In this case I mean, for example, the cost of making a bike. You have to get someone to gather the materials, form them, assemble them and distribute them, using up: raw materials, fuel, man hours and factory time and space.

What's the physical cost of using the internet or mobile data? I can't imagine the electricity behind it is worth $50+ for each person, then again I could be wrong.

Help?


Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
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Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 22nd May 2012 04:33
Nah, I bet the vast majority of the cost just goes straight to profit, if that is what you are asking...
Diggsey
19
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Joined: 24th Apr 2006
Location: On this web page.
Posted: 22nd May 2012 04:34 Edited at: 22nd May 2012 04:36
Mostly maintaining the infrastructure. Think of all the cables and routers and servers required for the internet to function, and apart from all the energy they convert into heat, they need replacing, and given the shear quantities involved that's alot of hardware! Obviously alot of this cost goes towards the people operating servers, but the routers and cables will belong mostly to ISPs. Then there's the cost of connecting new people up: the amount you pay for a fibre optic connection doesn't nearly cover the cost of actually installing it, so it's spread out over time.

[b]
Nateholio
19
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Joined: 30th Dec 2005
Location: I\'ve Been Everywhere
Posted: 22nd May 2012 09:33
Speak on it Diggsey! Maintaining plant and cables isn't cheap.

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