Considering getting ntl broadband

[mpat89]

Hi, I'm posting in the hope some users could give me their personal opinions on my situation.

I currently have an "upto 8mbps" ADSL service however I need to change ISP due to them imposing monthly data transfer limits. I've been looking around at other ADSL providers as well as cable (I'm in an NTL area).

At the moment NTL seem to offer the most attractive package - a 10Mbps service which as of 1st June would be unlimited/uncapped (this is something I require from my connection). I've been reading other users posts about poor download speeds, I'd be hoping for at least 8Mbps at all times of the day if not right up to 9-10Mbps. Is it worth entering the 12 month contract with them? I've also noticed they plan on making their minimum package 10Mbps, does this mean if I'm using their 'highest' package as it stands now, I would be upgraded to whatever that may be or given the option to downgrade to a cheaper equivilant?

Any response would be greatly appreciated, I understand this isn't NTL sales but the opinion of someone who's not employed to sell their product would be especially useful.

[Scrubbs]

I think if you did a search of the site with 10M, speeds, or something similair you will get plenty to read.
I am on 1 meg so can't really say.

[mpat89]

Yeah I have noticed people having issues but on the other hand I've noticed lots of people replying saying theirs is fine. It's unclear whether these people are doing something wrong at their end or whether it's just NTL being ****e and in most cases people tend to shift the blame to the other party.

Be aware that even though the service states it is 'unlimited', it is also subject to a 'fair useage' policy - if, as you imply, you want to download at 10 meg 24/7, it is likely they will ask you to reduce your useage.

When this will start to be enforced is the subject of speculation, at the moment. However, also rumoured, is that the equpment to monitor individual customers bandwidth is being installed across the network & that NTL are going to be 'shaping' network traffic - which people have taken to mean throttling p2p type traffic.

I would look into the implications of this before deciding if NTL are the ISP that will provide what you want

[__spc__]

My 10Mb service is excellent; I do not use kazaa or bittorrent...

I doubt that any current provider will come close to matching the package ntl provide me with.

[mpat89]

All my traffic will be legit FTP traffic (mostly large file backups from various servers). Do we have any documentation from NTL with regards to their planned usage policies? As long as FTP doesn't get throttled I'm not fussed. I'm not a torrent user!