As an Internet provider, we hear the “unlimited must be better” conversation quite frequently. (We hear a lot about the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus too. But that does not make them real.)
What we find out is that there is a lot of talk about “Unlimited” Internet, but there is no such animal. Don’t take our word for it, read the fine print, and the provider’s definition of “Unlimited.” It may only apply to certain times of day, or types of service.
The Internet has always been open, but it has never been unlimited. The Internet is a network of shared, not dedicated, resources. There is not unlimited speed, and there is not unlimited data use.
“Unlimited Internet” is a convenient marketing phrase that helps sell Internet plans, but usually does not deliver what you want. All “Unlimited” networks are oversubscribed and congested. In fact, providers rely on the congestion to limit the use. You only get so much, first come-first served, and then everyone slows down.
Below are Several Analogies for Unlimited Internet
The Road / Highway System.
We do have the Interstate Highway system that is considered very fast and efficient. It is not unlimited. It also has speed limits, zones, and metering for efficient use, and you move with the flow and ebb of the traffic. We think of the marketing phrase, “Unlimited Internet” much like a one-lane German Autobahn in rush hour. You may have the ability to drive fast but the other drivers will slow you down.
The Electrical Power system. We enjoy a vast and complex electrical energy grid, and you can have “almost” as much as you want. We do pay a minimum charge per month, and you also pay an escalating or increasing cost per kilowatt as we use more and as the total market or seasonal demand increases. Thankfully, when we need that AC, we can have it. We do pay higher rates for that season, but most of us think that it is worth it. And if we don’t want to pay the higher rates, we just don’t use the AC.
The Telephone System.
We enjoy a reliable telephone system and we are able to call anywhere in the world. We do pay monthly minimums and we pay for long distance, both by “blocks” and “per minute”. The use is almost unlimited, but the cost is not. Does your cell phone provider charge you for long distance, probably not, because it is a VoIP Internet connection. If you have a land line with “Unlimited” Internet, why does VoIP not work? Why does your land line home phone charge you for long distance? It all runs on the same “Unlimited” network, but if you have a land line in our town you have to pay extra to talk to Bucyrus, Stilwell, Olathe, or Overland Park? It is easy to get confused about that “unlimited is better” mantra, and convenient when it applies to only certain communication services.
Your Vehicle Travel.
Your vehicle can travel almost unlimited distances. However, it is limited by the “supplies” or “resources” that it uses, such as tires, oil, and fuel. We pay for each gallon of gas. Don’t you wish you could pay a monthly minimum and only pay extra as you needed it? We pay per mile, and it is limited only by the amount you are willing to pay. Some of us as teenagers believed that tires were unlimited, and we pushed them to the limits. After we started to pay for our own tires, we changed some of our driving habits. Who knew life could be so hard?
