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Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling
I'm a bit shocked the averages use is that high, after you take heavy users out of the equation.
This figure is taken while most ntl users are on 300k, which isn't proper broadband, i recall people saying they can't even sign up to Broadband Plus on this speed, as it doesn't support many of the multimedia streams.
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Are those averages just of NTL users or are they of all broadband users in Britain?
Is the reason that they can't sign up for Broadband Plus because the lower tier connection is so slow or is it that NTL only provide it on the upper tiers in order to tempt those on the lowest tier to upgrade?
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Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling
So ntl are upgrading everyone that's on 300k, to 1mb. All those people who couldn't sign up to Broadband Plus, and had a limited internet experience, will now be able to do things they couldn't do before, just as people who move from dial up to 300k, it opens up new ways to enjoy the internet.
Now, if those people (however many hundred thousand of them) all get 1mb speeds in the next few weeks/months, they ARE going to try downloading things they wouldn't have before, they're gonna start listening to internet radio, watching internet tv, downloading bigger movie clips, etc.
I've seen people mention that just because you get a faster speed, you don't have to download more, but in this case it does mean that, because the new, faster speed opens up new possibilities.
So, ntl in their infinite wisdom (teehee) have decided to impose a cap, based on current use, taking the 'less than 5gb' average use of non-heavy users, and at the same time give those very people a connection which is over 3 times the speed. You can't honestly expect someone not to change their internet habits, while changing to a speed so much faster than the old one.
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Why would giving customers an upgrade from 300k to 1 Mb tempt them to start listening to internet radio, watch internet tv, downloadbigger movie clips, etc? The only time that I have listened to internet radio was when it was the only way to listen to a football match commentry. Sounded exactly the same whether you had a 300k or 1.5Mb connection. I use my radio , TV and hi-fi for audio visual pleasure of a better quality than the internet supplies. Streaming media is just one of the many things that the anti cap brigade say takes you quickly over the cap but how many actually use it for extended periods.
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Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling
Ntl have only introduced this much faster speed to lure the public with misleading advertising (they won't mention the cap in the ads, just that they have the fastest lower teir). Simple reason for this is, they're desperate to offer the fastest speeds, and keep ahead of ADSL, but can't actually support it.
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If you look at NTLs Media reports you will see that besides increasing current speeds 300k / 750k / 1.5Mb to 1Mb / 2 Mb / 3 Mb they are also introducing a lower tier of 300k priced at £15.99. Rather destroys part of your argument.
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Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling
Same with the 3mb line, they introduced it to keep up there with ADSL, but to offer a speed like this with a 40GB cap, is just ludicrous. People who will pay for a 3mb line, are going to be heavy users, people who use the internet a lot, and want to download BIG files, fast. And to give them a service that can only be used less than an hour a day is just pointless.
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Like your definition of the usage pattern of people on the highest tier the facts to back it up you got from where? My son-in-law has a top tier connection that he hardly uses at all but does want top performance and things to happen fast when he does use it.
Whilst I am on the lowest tier which is quite adequate for my needs, even with a cap, I will on occasion move to the highest tier for an odd month when I have a short term need for that speed but my bandwidth used will probably stay pretty much the same as normal whilst on that top tier.
Every NTL customer is given a service that can be used for 24 hours a day no matter what tier they are on and nobody is restricted to less than an hours use aa days.
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Originally Posted by DieDieMyDarling
Regardless of how we all feel about caps, i really do think ntl have made a big mistake. AOL are already playing on the 'uncapped' ads, and with other ADSL companies moving into new area's, it won't be long before ntl are left behind, and losing their customers by the hundreds, and possibly thousands, to other providers, who will undoubtably play on a lot peoples fears of going over the cap, most people won't know how much 5gb is, and the sheer fear of it, will be enough to make them think twice about where they go.
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Marketing can make any service appear to be very good but how effective is most of it? Yes, a lot of people do not know how much 5Gb is but it doesn't stop many thousand signing up for ADSL services with a 1 or 2 Gb per month cap. NTL will not lose customers by the thousand with the new tiers and caps, they are more likely to gain customers particularly when broadband is bundled with other services at a discount which will be happening. British people are very much stuck in their ways and do not change suppliers easily and I can't see them changing because of the caps because most of them will never be affected.