Why Switzerland has 25 gbit internet and America doesn't
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Switzerland's 25 Gbit internet is due to regulated open-access fiber, not free markets.
Switzerland achieves 25 Gbit symmetric dedicated fiber via treating physical infrastructure as a shared neutral asset, with point-to-point 4-fiber strands terminating in open hubs. Any ISP can connect, fostering competition on price and service. The US and Germany have monopolies or wasteful overbuild from letting incumbents control infrastructure. Swiss regulators forced this model in 2008 and blocked Swisscom's 2020 attempt to switch to shared P2MP architecture, fining them 18 million CHF.
The author argues natural monopolies require regulation to enable true competition.
What commenters are saying
Top comment cites Ziply Fiber offering 50 Gbps across an area 15x Switzerland, but notes this is an outlier; most US areas have monopolies or duopolies. Several commenters argue density is a red herring: most Americans live in dense suburbs or cities where deployment should be feasible, and municipal fiber networks in rural counties often offer the best value. One camp says geography matters less than claimed, pointing to Australia's sparse population yet better outcomes. Another notes US suburbs often lack fiber entirely due to regulatory capture and incumbent resistance.