comcast another docsis isp struggling

Chrysalis · 06-11-2015, 22:48

I really think docsis is not good for shared contended networks, comcast are struggling check these leaked documents as they expand their capped service across their areas.

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/...ng_the_coming/

Ignitionnet · 06-11-2015, 23:23

If it weren't for the fact that this is nothing to do with capacity and everything to do with trying to prevent cord cutting I'd agree with you.

As it is...

Ignitionnet · 07-11-2015, 14:05

Following up, from your story, one of the links presented on the internal briefing, http://i.imgur.com/quf68FC.jpg

Not to mention http://i.imgur.com/kJkK4HJ.jpg

I would also point to the FCC reports based on their SamKnows test deployment indicating that Comcast customers achieve, on average, >100% of their tier's speeds at peak periods as of last report cycle.

DOCSIS is fine. Virgin Media are being bitten in the arse through not planning ahead with regards to power, space, fibre, node splits. On the upside a bunch of sites have had upgrades completed now, so the capacity will be coming online soon, much to the relief of many.

Comcast are trying to either stem the flow of people leaving their video services but staying with their HSI services to stream OTT, or to monetise that base more. Remember Netflix is close to, if not already at, 40% of downstream bandwidth usage during peak times in the USA. YouTube comes next at ~16-17%.

Given those numbers, alongside that many are using these services in lieu of paying the cable company for video services, and that line rental is essentially non-existent on the cable company's VoIP telephony services, it's not a massive shock that Comcast are trying to monetise the cord cutters more, either via charging them more for the capacity they use or making them pay a premium for unlimited services.

Chrysalis · 07-11-2015, 18:39

ok good reply

ianch99 · 07-11-2015, 18:51

Seems a fair approach to cap at a data limit most customers would never currently reach especially with Igni's note that "Comcast customers achieve, on average, >100% of their tier's speeds at peak periods". If the cap helps to reinforce the latter quality of service then this can only be a good thing.

VM should take note and follow suit if this means it emulates Comcast' peak speed performance ..

Ignitionnet · 07-11-2015, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

VM should take note and follow suit if this means it emulates Comcast' peak speed performance ..

They can't. The UK's market is far more competitive than that in the United States. VM would get utterly drilled by BT et al given that 'unlimited' is a major marketing point here.

ianch99 · 08-11-2015, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

They can't. The UK's market is far more competitive than that in the United States. VM would get utterly drilled by BT et al given that 'unlimited' is a major marketing point here.

You may be right, I am not sure. Most people actually don't want unlimited, they want fast enough when they need it with a realistic amount of data per month. Very different things all together.

The ISP marketing departments are fixated on "biggest is best" but maybe the public are smarter than this? If people were given two products to choose from:

1. fastest with unlimited data but not when you need it
2. slower but fast enough when you want it with, say, 300GB (-ish) of data per month

I am thinking most would choose number 2 ..

SnoopZ · 08-11-2015, 00:39

I think most would go for 1 if they do more than just browse and email, although it doesn't need to be the fastest.

300gb a month is nothing when you bring streaming services and game consoles into the picture, if VM did that it would be a disaster.

Chrysalis · 08-11-2015, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

They can't. The UK's market is far more competitive than that in the United States. VM would get utterly drilled by BT et al given that 'unlimited' is a major marketing point here.

yeah but note not all of BT's packages (and plusnet's, and sky's) are unlimited.

Whats forcing VM to make their cheapest packages unlimited? because their competitors dont.

Also what's forcing VM to keep initiating a speed war?

---------- Post added at 02:07 ---------- Previous post was at 02:05 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

I think most would go for 1 if they do more than just browse and email, although it doesn't need to be the fastest.

300gb a month is nothing when you bring streaming services and game consoles into the picture, if VM did that it would be a disaster.

I use netflix, iplayer, 5od, 4od, itv player, own 4 consoles and use steam.

I very rarely hit 300 gig month, I rarely even hit 200gig month.

Kabaal · 08-11-2015, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I use netflix, iplayer, 5od, 4od, itv player, own 4 consoles and use steam.

I very rarely hit 300 gig month, I rarely even hit 200gig month.

Try doing that in a household with 2 adults and 2 kids

alanbjames · 08-11-2015, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

I think most would go for 1 if they do more than just browse and email, although it doesn't need to be the fastest.

300gb a month is nothing when you bring streaming services and game consoles into the picture, if VM did that it would be a disaster.

I agree with this, we now have 9 devices using the internet at our home, 3 mobiles, 2 Pcs, 2 Laptops, An Xbox 360 and a Smart TV and 300Gb soon goes if your streaming or playing games regularly.

I would like to see an increase in upstream to around 20mb on the 200mb tier though.

ianch99 · 08-11-2015, 18:54

Are there any stats on household ISP data usage? I am guessing that 75% of people (or more?) would be below 300GB

SnoopZ · 08-11-2015, 19:28

My Xbox One usage is reporting anywhere between 110GB-300GB per month, now i am not a heavy user on that so that will be game downloads and netflix and OS updates, now imagine you have 2 kids in the house also both with games consoles and Youtube and maybe torrents or newsgroup downloads, as well as netlfix, 300GB is easily eaten up based on me being a 1 person household for stuff like this.

Ignitionnet · 08-11-2015, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabaal

Try doing that in a household with 2 adults and 2 kids

Tell me about it. Kids are non-stop on YouTube.

2 kids and 2 adults, all Internet savvy, and for whom the primary video entertainment source is streaming, use a fair chunk of bandwidth.

---------- Post added at 19:34 ---------- Previous post was at 19:33 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

Are there any stats on household ISP data usage? I am guessing that 75% of people (or more?) would be below 300GB

I would imagine so. The average on VM is I believe around 100GB/month.

qasdfdsaq · 13-11-2015, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

I would imagine so. The average on VM is I believe around 100GB/month.

The average on FTTC is nearly double that: 165GB/month download, 25GB/month upload (yes, much higher ratio than 10:1)

I'd have expected VM users to rank higher, not lower.

---------- Post added at 12:26 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

Are there any stats on household ISP data usage? I am guessing that 75% of people (or more?) would be below 300GB

With the current ~200GB/month average and 40% annual growth, 50% of people will likely use more than 300GB by this time next year.

As VM like to say on their vans:

Keep up!