I am currently considering whether to include a satellite system in the house planning or rely on a cable connection. Regardless of that, I have already applied for a telephone connection with the local provider, as I believe every house should have one.
Due to recent news that SD channels may stop broadcasting via Astra in 2022, there is speculation that a fee for satellite service might become mandatory by then. (This is already the case for HD+ channels, although they can still be viewed free in SD quality for now.)
The cable connection with Unitymedia costs around €1000, which is quite expensive and only really worthwhile if you immediately sign up for an offer from Unitymedia, as this would reduce the cost to about €400 according to my information. The question is:
a) Should I skip the cable connection and have a satellite system installed instead? In that case, I would use the Telekom network for phone and internet. Question: Will satellite remain free in the future as well?
b) Get the cable connection and use Unitymedia for phone, internet, and TV. The cost of the satellite system would then be “saved.” I would have the Telekom connection as a backup but would not use it at first.
Do you have any recommendations or tips? I’m trying to figure out which option is more economical.
Follow-up question: Is it possible to switch easily between cable providers, for example from Unitymedia to Vodafone? How does that work with “cable rights”? With telephone service, the infrastructure still belongs to Telekom, even if you use a different provider for calling.
Due to recent news that SD channels may stop broadcasting via Astra in 2022, there is speculation that a fee for satellite service might become mandatory by then. (This is already the case for HD+ channels, although they can still be viewed free in SD quality for now.)
The cable connection with Unitymedia costs around €1000, which is quite expensive and only really worthwhile if you immediately sign up for an offer from Unitymedia, as this would reduce the cost to about €400 according to my information. The question is:
a) Should I skip the cable connection and have a satellite system installed instead? In that case, I would use the Telekom network for phone and internet. Question: Will satellite remain free in the future as well?
b) Get the cable connection and use Unitymedia for phone, internet, and TV. The cost of the satellite system would then be “saved.” I would have the Telekom connection as a backup but would not use it at first.
Do you have any recommendations or tips? I’m trying to figure out which option is more economical.
Follow-up question: Is it possible to switch easily between cable providers, for example from Unitymedia to Vodafone? How does that work with “cable rights”? With telephone service, the infrastructure still belongs to Telekom, even if you use a different provider for calling.
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BenutzerPC19 Jun 2017 19:28I went ahead and ordered the telecom connection anyway. Is the bandwidth limit reached with the telecom connection? Otherwise, I will leave the telecom connection unused for now and go with Unitymedia 2Play, which would cost me only 400€. For TV, I would then install a satellite system.
16 Mbit is ADSL2, so no VDSL infrastructure, let alone VDSL2. In this case, I would strongly recommend a cable connection, as ADSL2 with 16 Mbit is already at its maximum speed; you won’t get any faster unless VDSL is installed. With 2play, you don’t have to pay for the basic line rental separately, just the 2play package, nothing extra. TV is then provided via satellite.
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BenutzerPC19 Jun 2017 19:37Should I cancel the telecom connection after all? However, I also feel uneasy relying solely on Unitymedia.
Opinions differ on this. Telekom has often tried to exclude competitors during network expansion. With VDSL2 (Vectoring), they have recently been partly successful in doing so.
But when it comes to cable, you are tied in. As of today, I would say it doesn’t really matter, since the products are more than competitive. For the future... crystal ball is broken. Even in the past, when people were still surfing the web with 768 kbit DSL connections, cable providers were already offering speeds of 2 Mbit and up, so at least the major ones have not proven to be outdated so far.
Whether you spend 800€ for a future option or sometime later 1500€ for retrofitting a Telekom connection... that’s up to you. I would save the money. However, there will certainly be users who would go for it; buying options or pre-installations is quite popular here, just to avoid making the wrong decision for the future 🙂
But when it comes to cable, you are tied in. As of today, I would say it doesn’t really matter, since the products are more than competitive. For the future... crystal ball is broken. Even in the past, when people were still surfing the web with 768 kbit DSL connections, cable providers were already offering speeds of 2 Mbit and up, so at least the major ones have not proven to be outdated so far.
Whether you spend 800€ for a future option or sometime later 1500€ for retrofitting a Telekom connection... that’s up to you. I would save the money. However, there will certainly be users who would go for it; buying options or pre-installations is quite popular here, just to avoid making the wrong decision for the future 🙂
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BenutzerPC19 Jun 2017 19:55Alex85 schrieb:
In this case, I would strongly recommend a cable connection. ADSL2 with 16 Mbit is already at its maximum; it can’t go any higher unless VDSL is rolled out. Here, I wonder: sure, you’re right, but who can guarantee that the telecom provider won’t upgrade the infrastructure again to stay competitive? I think I should definitely have the connection installed just in case.
The coverage map online also shows currently planned expansion projects. Beyond that, no further information is available.
For me, 16 Mbit is already clearly too little today. Therefore, I wouldn’t wait forever for it.
If you want the connection, just buy it. You know the price.
In 10 years, fiber optic will be a basic service everywhere anyway, as all other options are just temporary solutions. Crystal ball off.
For me, 16 Mbit is already clearly too little today. Therefore, I wouldn’t wait forever for it.
If you want the connection, just buy it. You know the price.
In 10 years, fiber optic will be a basic service everywhere anyway, as all other options are just temporary solutions. Crystal ball off.
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