Photo: J.VillaretePhoto / Flickr

In the world of gaming, Internet that’s fast and reliable enough to keep up with games is often hard to come by. Now, Demon Internet has met that need with a broadband package designed especially for gamers – but the move has raised many concerns about online equality.

Net neutrality

An issue that’s been in the spotlight recently is that of ‘net neutrality’ – or the lack of it. There’s a growing concern about the fact that those internet users who pay more for higher end Internet packages receive preferential treatment – leaving Internet use slower for everyone else. For those whose Internet experience is slowed down by preferential packages like the ones designed for gamers, the only solution at the moment could probably be summed up with the phrase ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’.

Up to speed and well-supported

The broadband service is promised to deliver speeds of up to 20mb upstream and 1mb downstream. Perks include the network prioritisation that’s causing all the fuss, as well as a static IP address and a router. Especially good news for those who don’t want their gaming interrupted under any circumstances is the fact that a UK support team will be ready to help out twenty-four hours a day.

Word from the top

Matt Cantwell, the head of Demon Internet, said that ‘We know how important a good broadband connection is to the gaming community, and we are excited to be launching this product which has been designed to meet the specific needs of gamers. At Demon we appreciate that a better connection allows better gaming, and are confident that gamers will see the benefits that this service offers them.’ They almost certainly will – which could turn out to be a pity for everyone else.

Photo: Stock.Xchng

The Internet is such a wonderful place. Really, it is. Where else would you hear of a large torrent service claiming to have bought a town so as to rename it and give its inhabitants free Internet access? Well, that’s pretty much exactly what TorrentReactor claims to have done. Funny thing is, the story only gets better.

Free Internet for the religious

TorrentReactor, the torrent service in the spotlight here, says it purchased Gar, a Russian town, for 4.5 million rubles (about £94,600). The community was set up by a religious group and it has a mere 214 inhabitants, with three computers amongst them all and one dial-up connection.

In all its ‘benevolence’, TorrentReactor wants to give the entire town broadband Internet access.

It’s true, no it’s not, it’s true!

Naturally who is going to believe a story about a torrent site purchasing a town, for crying out loud? TechRadar claims its Russian sources in the area say that the whole thing is made up, whereas TorrentReactor is insistent it purchased the town. The crew at ‘Reactor went so far as contacting all-things-bit-torrent TorrentFreak to state the legitimacy of its case, and even putting up a profile of the mint village online.

Helping villages

TechRadar managed to even source a comment from a spokesperson. ‘We realise it’s just a drop in the ocean comparing to the amount of money needed to help thousands of other villages. But we at least do something to support complete strangers.’ Again, oh so benevolent. ‘We are proud that we are able to do so and hope we will be proud of this in the future,’ said the spokesperson.

This sounds like a very elaborate 4chan joke taken to the nth degree. And it probably is. Which is why, all piracy issues aside, you gotta love the humour of torrent services, yet more importantly, you have to marvel at the majesty of the Internet. It truly is a wonderful place. How awesome it would be if this story was true, though!