• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    4 months ago

    This isnt a random usage fee, this is for areas they claim are too busy, so you gotta pay if you want to gain access.

    Congestion pricing is the PC way to describe it.

    Price gouging is the more honest term.

    There was no world where SpaceX could support unlimited customers in a cell region.

    You can charge a fixed rate and ration bandwidth during peak use.

    Or you can charge a variable rate in order to maximize revenue during peak demand.

    One maximizes utility while the other maximizes profit.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      4 months ago

      Neither of those options would support everyone living in a high density urban area, bandwidth would drop to nothing and no one would want to buy it, and people generally hate inconsistent bandwidth, or random peak hour usage charges on their bill.

      Edit: Their overall bandwidth per cell is just too low to be able to support everyone in high density areas like that.

      • Dave.@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        4 months ago

        That’s why they used to restrict signups in certain geographical areas. But then people complained that they couldn’t sign up. So here we are.