Providing Internet access: what we learn from INDEX

Author

Edell, Richard ; Varaiya, Pravin

Author_Institution

California Univ., CA, USA

Volume

13

Issue

5

fYear

1999

Firstpage

18

Lastpage

25

Abstract

The Internet demand experiment, or INDEX, is a market and technology trial. Its objective is to determine how much users value different qualities of service for Internet access. Findings from the trial imply that today´s system of flat-rate pricing by ISPs is very inefficient. Flat-rate pricing wastes resources, requires light users to subsidize heavy users, and hinders deployment of broadband access. INDEX is a prototype of an alternative ISP model that offers differentiated quality service on demand, with prices that reflect resource cost. In this alternative ISP consumers pay less, suppliers increase profits, and the deployment of broadband access is facilitated

Keywords

Internet; broadband networks; quality of service; tariffs; INDEX; ISP; Internet access; Internet demand experiment; broadband access; consumer demand; differentiated quality service on demand; market trial; pricing; qualities of service; resource cost; technology trial; Access protocols; Costs; Packaging; Pricing; Prototypes; Quality of service; Signal generators; Switches; Testing; Web and internet services;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Network, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0890-8044

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/65.793687

Filename

793687