Will your ISP cut you off for exceeding the download limit?

[wolfman]

According to tonights "Gadget show" channel 5 there is only one truly "unlimited" ISP and that is Sky. They do not have a "fair usage policy"

[wolfman]

This very subject was on The "gadget" show last night, they are running a campaign about this. The bottom line being "unlimited" meaning exactly that. They are going as far asking people to contact their ISPs.

[Neil Smith]

Wolfman, "unlimited" is just that, so as long you don't take the p*** and do average internet usage they will not say anything, its when you have 10 PC's downloading films 24/7 so you can pirate them for example.

[wolfman]

I think we should all be asking what does "Unlimited" mean.

[Neil Smith]

I'm with Virgin (formerly NTL). What does "shaped" mean?

If you are a VERY heavy user (download 24/7) as some people do, they can slow your connection down, this only happens if you really do take advantage. The trouble with virgins network (and all ISPs) is although it is a million times better than a phone line if you get a lot of heavy users in one small area (within about 200m) you may well get slow speeds just browsing.

[admin]

I'm with Virgin (formerly NTL). What does "shaped" mean?

[wolfman]

 WHAT THE ISPS OFFER
Tiscali - advertised as unlimited, has fair usage policy but with unspecified excess, will cut off those deemed heavy users
Be - advertised as unlimited, unspecified excess, will not cut off users
Sky - unlimited with no usage barrier or cut off policy for those on its own network. 40GB monthly limit for other customers.
Virgin Media - unlimited but traffic of heavy users is shaped at busy times
Toucan - advertised as unlimited, with unspecified fair usage, will cut customers off
BT, advertised as unlimited, unspecified fair usage, will not cut users off
AOL, 40Gb limit, will remove users who exceed it
Plusnet, 30Gb peak-time limit. Those exceeding their limit will be encouraged to upgrade
Orange, advertised as unlimited, unspecified excess, will remove heavy users