Virgin Media Introduce Speed Caps

Everton | May 05, 2007 | Comments


Virgin Media are introducing speed capping measures that for users who download large amounts from the Net during peak hours. Peak hours have been defined as 4pm to midnight which is much longer than for most other ISPs, who consider 6pm to 10pm to be the peak.

Virgin claim that only 5% of downloaders will be affected, but looking at the bands I’m not too sure:

  • M tier users who download over 350MB will have their speed capped at 1Mbps during peak
  • L tier users who download over 750MB will have their speed restricted to 2Mbps during peak
  • XL users who download over 3GB in peak hours will have their speed restricted to 5Mbps

Once a user hits the download limit for their tier then their speed will be capped for four hours. The bands look pretty low to me so I’m sure that it will affect more than 5% of users. Also, the way the scheme appears to be setup will extend the period of capping e.g. if a XL user hits the 3GB limit at 11pm, then their speed will be capped for four hours until 3am.

Personally, I’m quite disappointed by this as I regularly download more than 3GB during ‘peak’ and I wouldn’t even classify my usage as heavy. I’ve also been a big champion of Cable’s unlimited policy in the past and this feels like a big let-down.

The Virgin Media FAQ tries to make out that many users will benefit from the upcoming 20Mbps upgrade (although looking at the timetable it looks like the dates have slipped already), but most users don’t need more speed – they want unlimited downloads.


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About the Author: Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University.He also writes for Windows 7 News, Windows 8 News and One Tip A Day.

  • John
    So say you live in a area with just five people on and they aren't using there connection to download anything or they go out, does that mean if your the only one using at the time and you download 3gb in a few hours you'll be punished?

    Also imo they are just restricting the service WE pay to have, I upgraded to the 10mb (soon to be 20) so i could download at those speeds and now they say i wont be-able to or i get my service restricted for a few hours........ and considering i can easily get 3gb in a few hours i suspect i will be capped quite often lol,
    I will not pay for a 20Mb line only to be restricted to 5Mb just because i am downloading at the speed they sell to me, it's unjust and unfair!
  • Mr Nobody
    As you don't get charged when you hit a certain limit or even cut off you can't really call it capping John.
  • @Mr Nobody

    It most certainly is speed capping!
  • David
    I've signed the petition that was set up over the weekend at www.sn2ts.com which will hopefully make Burch reconsider these plans. If not, I'll be getting ADSL installed.
  • Tom
    Im a long term telewest broudband user, and have been using the

    service since the very begining. As a mobile computer engineer iv

    allways prided myself in confidentley saying that Blueyonder (Virgin

    media now) Is the best service out there because they dont cap your

    downloads, download speed, reliability is allways top notch its the

    most transparant honest internet service around.

    Virgin Media, what your takeing away is the very reason why probably

    60% have chosen cable.
    Look at improving your service instead of cutting our service down.

    PS, if this is implimented, please consider Bulldog internet business

    package.
    http://www.bulldogbroadband.com/business/small/

    * >>
    * >>
    * Wireless router**
    * 3 PC Security Suite licences included
    * 1 static IP address included
    * 4 email accounts with anti-spam and
    anti-virus protection

    All for £45 a month.
    (im just down the road from the exchange :)
  • Tom
    forgot the important bit.. >>
  • Tom
    Unlimited downloads at up to 16 Mbp/s

    Unlimited uploads at up to 1 Mbp/s
  • TeX
    I've been with Blueyonder(Virgin Media) since they started in the UK around 15 years ago & been on there premium connection all the time(currently 20Mb 1-5Mb actual :S).But after all the problems I suffered since Virgin took over Blueyonder I've decieded to bin them they are a complete joke as an ISP now & this just caps it all(pardon the pun).I'm switching to https://www.bethere.co.uk/ who offer the following if your within 2km of a BT exchange(speeds drop outside 2km)I live less than 1 mile from the exchange. :-

    Up to 24 meg download speed
    Upload speed up to 0.4 meg
    4 gigs usage included
    (additional 5 gigs for £5)
    £14 monthly
    £24 connection fee
    24/7 support hotline

    or

    Up to 24 meg ultra-fast broadband
    Up to 1.3 meg upload speeds
    Unlimited usage
    £24 monthly
    £24 connection fee
    24/7 support hotline

    or

    Up to 24 meg ultra-fast broadband
    Up to 2.5 meg upload speeds
    24/7 unlimited usage
    24/7 prioritised member support
    £24 connection fee
    £40 monthly (incl. VAT)
    1 Static IP free, up to 16 available

    You will all agree this beats the pants off Virgin Media both in down/up stream & more importantly price BYE BYE ! Virgin....
  • Capped
    Fully agree with the article....
    Well said that man.

    I'm being capped on my 'XL' connection as I type this!
    When you add up all the individual bits going out AND coming in, the 3GB boundary is pretty easy to cross, just with a day of casual fiddling about and a few files here and there.

    Putting up prices then capping users, whilst also losing TV channels and scores of customers spells bad times for Virgin Media, and for customers who are too lazy/apathetic to migrate elsewhere.
    Be aware that the V.M. coffers are empty as a result of this stupid 'merger' (read: marketing exercise) so there will be no (desperately needed) investment in the tired cable infrastructure.
    Cable in the UK is fully on course to become a pariah, until some kindly foreign investor steps in with a buyout offer....

    I've certainly had enough.
    It's gotten so bad that i'll be giving my future custom to British Telecom, who I hate!
  • Alan
    I think that everyone should write to watchdog and complain!

    watchdog@bbc.co.uk
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