Virgin Media Introduce Speed Caps
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.
Digg it
Save This Page
Google
Comment by andy on 15 May 2008:
Virgin are absolute crap, everything was fine until they took over im supposed to have unlimited downloads and im getting capped???, f virgin media, go o2 and bethere broadband!!!!!!! hope virgin go bankrupt and richard branson ends up living on the streets!!!
Comment by Angry on 11 May 2008:
ahahahaha
A single HD 30 minute video is 350mb. I can download 1 episode of 1 TV series and be capped to 20kb/s for four hours? Virgin just lost a customer.
Comment by Splats on 28 February 2008:
Dale (11:49): Hi, Welcome to Virgin Media Chat and Remote Assistance. My name is Dale. How may I help you?
Dale (11:49): Hi
User (11:49): hi dale i was wonderin if u could tell me if i’m on this list
User (11:50): cause my speeds yesterday where real crap
Dale (11:50): Ok i will check now….
User (11:50): thanks
User (11:51): also while your checkin that could u tell me what amount i have downloaded to get on the list ( if i’m on it )
Dale (11:51): Yes you are on the cap list for nearly 19 gig in one week.
User (11:52): ??????
User (11:52): what are the peak times then cause i’ve stopped downloadin in the peak times
Dale (11:53): Doesnt matter as it takes into account the whole days there fore we cap durring peak to stop the network being clogged by high users.
User (11:54): it does’nt matter ??? well i think it does i was told from 4pm till 12 pm is peak times if this is not tru then i have been told a lie
Dale (11:55): That is when you will be capped but it depends on the amount you download 24/7.
User (11:55): the rules virgin are puttin down are as clear as mud i try to stay inside the line but i can’t if i dont know what the rules are
User (11:56): but if its unlimited then surly in the offpeak times u should not me taken that into account surly
User (11:57): so what your sayin tome then is that 24/7 people are being monitered
Dale (12:00): The unlimted download policy is susspended at the moment( which is explain in the terms and condition on the web site) unfortunately yes it is monitored 24/7 and runs sunday to sunday.
User (12:01): so if its susspended then what am i payin 18 pound for??
User (12:01): how do i go about gettin my mac code
Dale (12:01): Youcan get a mac code from 0845 045 0709 option 4
User (12:02): ok thanks i think its best for me to move to another company one that gives clear details of what you get for your money
Dale (12:03): Ok thank you for using online support. Have a good day.
User (12:04): i well thanks bye
pipex buisness line here i come for 19quid u get unlimited and NO FAIR USE POLICY woooohooooooooo about time some company did this u watch everyone else follow
Comment by VIRGIN ARE RUBBISH on 27 February 2008:
WTF upgraded from 2mb connection to a 20 mb connection now i get less, speed test on 2mb connection showed just under 2mb but speed test on 20 mb connection showing 976kb virgin media takin the piss there aren’t you and salesman said i would get a free upgrade around march 08 to 50mb when they announce 50mb connection available this is a joke i will be lucky if i get 500kb connection at this rate
Pingback by VM Download Speed ??? - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums on 26 January 2008:
[...] 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 [...]
Comment by Tony on 23 January 2008:
I’v been on th 20meg line for sometime and I’ve never had more than 5mb from it …this is beyond a joke, I was getting faster speeds from my 6meg line with NTL and at half the cost. Virgin are liars and are surely in breach of advertising rules, they are also a ripoff and I am currently looking at other ISP’s - as soon as I find one i’m happy with, virgin can kiss my arse and my money bye bye
Comment by disgruntled on 21 January 2008:
20 Duffman
June 6th, 2007 01:40 GMT
there are many ppl from many walks of life. i myself am disabled so my life is the computer, talking to ppl on the internet is my connection to the outside world….also my son has agoraphobia which means he cannot leave the house and he plays games all day and most of the nite its his life his way of connecting to the outside world, we’re being capped and his games wont run, i watch movies over the internet and suddenly wham they freeze up and become unwatchable…..so yes we do have a right to complain…..just because you have a normal life with normal health doesnt mean the rest of the world is the same, wake up and accept thier are more ppl out there than yourself.