"Mirroring" as a "solution" ?

Here's an idea for the stupid ISPs at the hands of whom you and I are suffering :

Why not set up mirrors of internet downloads locally (within the country)?

Most of my downloads are things like software patches/updates, free software, free mp3s (from sites like music.download.com etc), Linux/BSD CD ISOs and what not...

If an ISP like BSNL could set up a file server like http://mirrors.bsnl.co.in/ (as an example) then host a lot of data there... and people downloading from these mirrors shouldn't be metered (shouldn't count toward the download limit)... wouldn't that be great?

Of course it would!

And of course, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! booohooohooo 8-(

I'm on BSNL's Home 1800 package (5 GB data transfer per month) and I already have done 3 GB before 1 week is over 8-(

Now I have to lock up my modem in a vault and throw away the key to avoid the temptation of downloading gobs of data and then getting slapped with a huge bill...

i can hear the sound of that slap... 😉

And I can hear the head banging sound coming from your profile pic 😎I feel your pain

we're on the same boat pal 🙁

What do u thinkWhy will an isp invest in storage space and bandwidth and processing power just for setting up a mirror and that too kind of freeFor them it will be like throwing axe on their own feet.

This sounds like a good idea but so easy to abuse.WHO is going to check what gets stored and not ? ISP got to setup the server, maintain it *AND* police it. I recall an ISP getting busted in OZ cos they had something similar set up.

they need to hire teenagers to tell them what to do and what not to do.

ouch, was that sarcarsm hehe 😎blr_p, what do you mean by "easy to abuse" and "who is going to check what gets stored" ?bsnl can save (international) bandwidth by mirroring... or should i say "proxying" or "caching" or whatever... you know what i mean? then if they offer un-metered (unlimited access) to the local servers via their own fibre/backbone whatever... they dont pay anyone else for the traffic...consumers win!

Maybe i should have asked how these mirrors work, do they keep a copy of the common files downloaded by users ?Does someone upload to them to share with others ?Can you explain how BSNL's mirror service works specifically.

they need to hire teenagers to tell them what to do and what not to do.[/b]

err we had not a mirror but an FTP server which was filled with all the usual downloads like winamp, WMP, anti virus software and all the usual stuff. we teenagers we the ones who we suppose to handle it. it went quite well for a while but our teenage hormones took over and people started uploading porn. for about 6 months it was porn heaven. unfortunately oner day an uncle got the address of the FTP. he complained to the cops and we had to shut down the FTP. :angry: