Comments on: Time Warner: More Bandwidth = More Money

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:26:43 +0000

Most of the cable providers in Canada (don’t know about DSL) have limits on their plans, which vary based on the speed. Regular HS, which gives about 5Mbps download is typically limited to 60GB/month. If you exceed that, IMHO, you’re probably doing something illegal.

I’m sure I exceed that number, and I’m not doing anything illegal. I just like to download and test out various Linux distributions. If I download a few Linux DVD’s every month that would come out to 15 or 20GB alone. Not to mention music and movies I download from iTunes.

By: leland

leland — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:26:40 +0000

I hate the thought of going back to a limited plan. Just consider the company I manage used to get 7GB of bandwidth a month and anything over was charged by 1GB levels. We regularly hit 12 GB and thus got $20 tacked on to our bill a month thus raising our $35 per month account to $55. I hated that and when we finally got an unlimited plan I have been much happier. But we pay $500 for our T1 which really does get guaranteed 1.5Mbps both ways 24 hours a day. No consumer level service will provide that; I just hope there will always be a reasonably priced plan that is unlimited in the consumer space.

By: kiltboy

kiltboy — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:29:08 +0000

Most of the cable providers in Canada (don’t know about DSL) have limits on their plans, which vary based on the speed. Regular HS, which gives about 5Mbps download is typically limited to 60GB/month. If you exceed that, IMHO, you’re probably doing something illegal.

Amak wrote:

If they need limits because of their server loads, doesn’t that usually signal a need to UPGRADE!? Lazy companies…if Cox did this (they don’t to me as far as I know) I’d ditch them in 1/2 a second.

Or you could be faced with the prospect that they have to raise your monthly fees so that they can afford to upgrade all their equipment.

By: Pieter

Pieter — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:31:48 +0000

You guys should be delighted with this move. Now they can’t legally throttle your bandwidth if they think you exceeded “fair use” limits. Unlimited doesn’t exist. At least you know what you’re gonna get now…

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:01:55 +0000

I don’t understand why certain companies think that it’s okay to give you less for the same amount of money that you’ve been paying for years. If Time Warner rolls this out in my area I WILL switch to DSL.

By: arjay

arjay — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:35:58 +0000

Maybe this means there will be less people watching YouTube, renting movies from iTunes, downloading songs, etc. Also this might signal a better fought battle against piracy! But I don’t know. If they do do this, I’m forcing my dad to get another provider. Its hard to be bundled up even if they claim to lower the prices a bit.

If there will be no choice, my life on the internet will be from school! Haha!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:54:38 +0000

In all I'm pretty shocked to hear about all of the limits on the Internet services around the world. What confuses me is that this is supposed to be the start of heavy digital media streaming. How are we supposed to stream shows from providers like Netflix when they are capping the Internet?

Ethan wrote:

All I say to internet customers in the US… get Verizon Fios ASAP… I’ve had it for a couple years now and I LOVE IT!! If Verizon starts charging me based on bandwidth use, I’m moving to Japan.

Unfortunately the areas that is available in is still rather limited, but I'm sure it will continue to spread.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:07:23 +0000

Michael Dobrofsky wrote:

This is the reality down here in Australia right now, Ashley. We have numerous plans based on usage and speeds. Yep, sucks to be Aussie.

From the sounds of it, Aussie’s aren’t the only ones with limitations! I’m thinking now that the U.S. are the odd-ones out there by not setting limitations. I guess it is inevitable then that we’ll be restricted here soon.

By: epiac1216

epiac1216 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:25:58 +0000

Thilak wrote:

500 Rs ($13) plan gives you 2 GB free of bandwidth. Anything more than that will be heavily charged. I can’t imagine how many homes will disconnect their internet connection after receive a heavy data usage bill. Think of those poor nerdy kids!

For us that's pretty cheap. In Panama, Cable & Wireless (based in London) charges $28.95 for 1 MB of bandwidth until you download 6 GB. After that, you are restricted to 256 kbps until the beginning of the next month, where your service will be restored again 1 MB. Regards, Omar.-

By: Thilak

Thilak — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:37:34 +0000

I was actually surprised to read this! In India, we didn’t have broadband until 3 years ago. Ever since we got broadband, we’ve been on limited plans. It’s very pricey here!

500 Rs ($13) plan gives you 2 GB free of bandwidth. Anything more than that will be heavily charged. I can’t imagine how many homes will disconnect their internet connection after receive a heavy data usage bill. Think of those poor nerdy kids!