Sure, in the UK we have very strict rules around competition law and broadband access. Here, fibre businesses lay fibre to premises (and are paid to do so). Then, a customer can order from any number of broadband providers, and the company who originally laid the fibre lease that line out at wholesale prices. The broadband operator runs 'over the top' of whoever installed the fibre.

That way, the fibre installer makes money over time, gently and progressively. All broadband companies and smaller 'Alt-Nets' as we call them, have an equal opportunity to a customer base. Finally the customer has the choice to find services matching their needs and price points. Pay a lot get a lot, pay less get less.

I think I have a choice of 6. Names which come to mind are EE, Vodafone, Virgin, Trooli, Cuckoo and Orange.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Meanwhile, in the US, the government paid ISPs for fiber to be ran and they just pocketed it instead.

Now we've got smaller companies running fiber and charging less for synchronous gigabit than you'd pay for copper 500mb down 5mb up, and ISPs are panicking a bit.

All the fiber maps have big empty zones where apartment complexes are, sadly.