Many providers of Broadband services keenly advertise the fact that they can supply their subscribers with an understandably attractive unlimited monthly download cap as part of a premium service, or as standard. However, as many customers have found out, sometimes to their chagrin, the term ‘unlimited’ should be taken with a rather large pinch of salt.
Most, if not all, ISPs who offer so-called unlimited downloads to their users will have on their websites and in the small print of their contracts, a Fair Usage Policy of some sort.
From the wording of many of these clauses, it is implied that this measure has been taken to curb the behaviour of individuals who constantly download large amounts of data from file-sharing sites such as Kazaa, and thus take up a large amount of the network capacity and potentially having an adverse affect on the performance of the non-premium limited services, if an ISP, such as Be Broadband does not support across the board unlimited downloads for all its packages.
Below is an extract taken from the Fair Use Policy currently on display at the Orange site:
“[Our policy is] designed to make sure your broadband service is fast and reliable whenever you use it.
Some of our broadband customers use file sharing software and download large files like music and videos. This uses up lots of network capacity leaving less available for you. If they’re doing this at peak times, it could mean that the speed of your broadband service will be affected.”
Customers who refuse to play fair and continue to excessively download are threatened with being disconnected:
“If this does happen then we’ll get in touch to help you find ways to reduce your usage. If your usage continues to be very high, we’ll get in touch again. Ultimately, if your usage still remains excessive despite our attempts to help you reduce it, we may have to suspend your service and possibly close your account.”
When you consider that not everyone uses the internet for the same purposes, this doesn’t seem like a bad idea, as it allows occasional net users, who would presumably be subscribing to a less expensive package the freedom to surf at an optimised speed.
The problems begin with the fact that the services are advertised as being ‘unlimited’ when technically, they’re not. It is impossible to tell what a provider deems to be excessive – the only way to find out is to continue surfing the net until you receive your first warning email. If you’re lucky. Some ISPs state that they will restrict access during peak times (BT), or “[terminate customer accounts without notice” (AOL).
It’s the (real world) surfing equivalent of straying too far out to sea, and being caught in a riptide due to an unclear warning system. Without any idea given as to what is acceptable or excessive use, customers can’t really be blamed for overstepping the mark, intentionally or not.
Another problem with Usage Policies is that the ways in which people surf the net have changed over the last two years. File-sharing websites are also less popular today than they were two years ago, largely due to the arrival of the iPod and iTunes, and the fact that many of the previously popular P2P sites have become synonymous with viruses and malware.
Also, with many routers and hubs allowing multiple users to share the same connection, (all covered by the same subscription) would it really be that hard for an average family with 3 or more computers to download an excessive amount?
If customers pay for an unlimited service, they should not have to worry about a download limit that they can’t see. In all fairness, casual users of the internet should be allowed to get what they pay for and surf without having their connection compromised by the behaviour of others, but in an attempt to facilitate this, ISPs may be unintentionally hurting the customers whose interests they’re trying to protect.
Unlimited Broadband services are currently offered by BT, Pipex, Tiscali, AOL, Orange, Virgin, and Be.
Similar Posts: