Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

Since you're still reading, I know that you have a broadband internet connection, as opposed to a dial-up ISP. I also know that when you picked up your phone you heard a dial tone. That's because telephone service is regulated. Operators are expected to achieve "five nines" of reliability or "uptime" -- the service must be available 99.999% of the time -- and they must report any instances of downtime longer than 2 minutes. That's a miniscule five minutes of downtime in the 525,600 minutes in a year.

If that doesn't sound like much -- if you think that 99.0% ought to be just fine -- then keep in mind that 99.0% availability means that your service might be down for more than three and a half days every year. Calling 911 doesn't seem so helpful in that situation, does it?

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

ISPs used to promise unlimited internet service, but when we actually tried to take them up on their promises they complained that there was a bottleneck; they would have to filter. Or they would charge us higher prices for more bandwidth. And we seem willing to accept such explanations.

We're so used to cable and satellite television reception problems that we don't even notice them anymore. We know that many of our emails never reach their destination. Mobile phone companies compare who has the fewest dropped calls (after decades of mobile phones, why do we even still have dropped calls?) And the ubiquitous BlackBerry, which is a mission-critical device for millions, has experienced mass outages several times this month. All of these services are unregulated, which means there are no demands on reliability, other than what the marketplace demands.

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Reliability requires redundancy (at least two of everything) and failover plans so everything continues to work even when something breaks. BlackBerry service went down because Research In Motion routes all messages through a single point of failure. And it failed. Systems today are built as cheaply as possible, and it shows.

We're building products and services as quickly as possible, as minimally as possible. Everything is designed to maximize profit. And, one could say, designed to fail. We're building systems to which we are increasingly entrusting our lives. Even failing only 1% of the time just isn't good enough. Would it be acceptable if the wheels feel off of 1 out of every 100 cars?

We once understood the value of just enough regulation to ensure the secure operation of services that we depend on everyday. Now we are building entirely new classes of products to replace the old ones -- services we have come to depend on even more in our everyday lives. Could you live without your mobile phone? How would you function at work without email access?

What does it take for us to recognize that we need to take the same steps necessary to ensure that the technologies created today -- and into the future -- are just as dependable as the good old telephone was 50 years ago?

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.

Communications: Why do we accept less than 99.999%?

Larry Borsato — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0800

Pick up your phone. Go ahead and try it right now.

I'll wait.

We've come to expect, and to depend on, that level of service for our home phones. That's because local and long distance phone lines are regulated.

So why are we so unconcerned about it for other forms of communication?

Why don't we demand more?

Recently, when attempts were made to protect net neutrality, telecom companies complained that people were trying to introduce new regulations. Telecoms don't like regulations; they cost money.

Related news, commentary, and predictions:

Follow-up by Larry Borsato: Communications: Is price all that matters?
Prediction: AT&T will win the C-block spectrum auction
Larry Borsato: The wisdom of clouds
Larry Borsato: ISPs, the music industry, and the Web
Larry Borsato: If you want a job, we don't want you
News: Sprint said to be planning layoffs
News: Sprint to open its XOHM WiMAX, still faces hurdles
News: T-Mobile, AT&T join Verizon on unlimited plans

Note: Anonymous comments on The Industry Standard are disabled. To leave a comment and participate in the Standard's prediction market, please register first.