Broadband usage

[nedah]

Here in the UK, the main TV Channels are very actively promoting their particular version of iPlayer and an increasing number of TV sets are being marketed with a facility to directly access the internet for surfing etc. All these activities increase a subscriber’s use of Broadband.

Most Broadband packages have a monthly usage limit of say 10GB, 20GB or 40GB etc and I suspect that subscribers using these activities will find themselves paying their ISP a penalty for exceeding the limit. My ISP (BT), without making any direct reference to these activities, has recently reminded subscribers about Broadband usage limits, changed pricing method for exceeding limit and, as from 1st October, will be making available a free utility to monitor Broadband usage. Clearly they are anticipating an increase in revenue.!

However, apart from the above cost factor there must surely be a big impact upon the Broadband infra structure and I do not recall seeing any comment/discussion about plans to handle this potential upsurge. Living in a rural area at the extreme distance limit from our nearest telephone exchange I hope my broadband connection is not going to be further downgraded.

Have I missed the point or am I right to be concerned?

[Pyromaniac]

why would it be downgraded? One would hope that any increase in the amount of bandwidth companies can offer would be backed up by an increase in infrastructure. If you think you're going to exceed your download limit then get an 'unlimited' package or similar (i'm with plusnet, who offer a package with 160GB instead of unlimited).

[nedah]

Pyromaniac,
Thanks for your comments.
I am not too concerned about the usage cap because that is within my control.
However it is my understanding that there is a limit to the amount of traffic a "standard" telephone line can handle (something called "contention?). Cosequently, if I am correct and if there is an upsurge in the volume of traffic due to the iPlayer etc factor, there will be a deterioration in service unless the infra structure is upgraded. So far I have not seen any evidence of work being done to upgrade telephone lines in my area. I suspect that nothing will be done until until matters have reached a critical state.

nedah

[martini92]

Hi, thanks for the comments about broadband usage, it maked my work easy and fast.
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[classicsoftware]

martini92:

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[bristol]

Just read a report that came out today that the US is lagging in the amount of households that have access to broadband. Came here and see a guy from the UK! Weird!

[hackerballs]

we are getting (maybe) caps on our internet here in Canada..........I'm over double of what my "cap" is already only they haven't charged us yet.......I have 100GB limit..................prices are crazy....suggested prices are $1 to $4 per GB over your cap..............costs are about 3 to 10 cents /GB to get it to your home.........can you say MONEY GRAB?