Speeding up the Internet: Limey in Bermuda

High-speed internet access in Bermuda has long been both slow and expensive. It looks like that might be about to change.

CableVision has just announced its intent to launch a high-speed internet service next month. It will offer a download speed of 2 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps for $30 per month, plus ISP fees. The service will be offered first in the East End, then gradually rolled out westwards.

Customers in the UK can today enjoy speeds of 2 Mbps for around $30 per month over their telephone line, or 10 Mbps for around $70 per month from their cable provider. Here in Bermuda the best you can do right now is 1 Mbps download (512 kbps upload) for around $270 per month – of which $90 goes to the phone company and $180 to the ISP.

Unfortunately, even with CableVision you’ll still need to pay an Internet Service Provider, and it’s unclear how much they will charge for 2 Mbps access. Or whether they’ll even offer a 2 Mbps package at all. After all, BTC DSL packages currently allow for download speeds of 1.5 Mbps, but no ISP supports this.

Nevertheless, CableVision’s entry into the market should at least help push BTC’s outrageous fees down to a more reasonable level.