BT Retail makes its unlimited products totally unlimited

[pip08456]

Putting all discussions about plusnet etc aside as this thread is about BT's Infinity product and it's recent lifting of all "caps" "STM" whatever you wish to call the management system. As Chrys reports above the Glasnost test shows no shaping whatsoever. I don't know if he only ran the P2P test or the others (there are several tests you can perform) but other BT users have reported the same.

Some have said this was done in response to Sky and it may well be so but it certainly leaves Virgin on the back foot and what response will they come out with especially now that they are/will be under new ownership? Only time will tell.

Apparently this is the first ever post I've made on this forum so hello to all!

[pabscars]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

so I don't quite get what this "generic overall traffic management applied at peak times" is about? "

Could it simply be a rate limiting Qos qas ????

[pip08456]

"generic overall traffic management applied at peak times" Is basically a buffer for BT. It should never kick in as they have the infrastructure to handle it ATM (as the customer base increases it can be expected to change). IIRC each Infinity cab has a 2.5Gb fibre connection to the exchange. The cab also has a finite number of connections.

[pabscars]

Originally Posted by pippincp

"generic overall traffic management applied at peak times" Is basically a buffer for BT. It should never kick in as they have the infrastructure to handle it ATM (as the customer base increases it can be expected to change). IIRC each Infinity cab has a 2.5Gb fibre connection to the exchange. The cab also has a finite number of connections.

Much obliged

[pip08456]

No probs Pabs, also IIRC the cab is limited to 288 connections (I'll check on that and get back later) so doing the math on users the bandwidth should be there.

[qasdfdsaq]

Depends on the size of the cab, there are two sizes, 128-line and 288 line. Last I knew the cabs started with ~4x1Gb symmetric for larger ones and they have up to 28 fibres they can light up if needed.

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by pippincp

Putting all discussions about plusnet etc aside as this thread is about BT's Infinity product and it's recent lifting of all "caps" "STM" whatever you wish to call the management system. As Chrys reports above the Glasnost test shows no shaping whatsoever. I don't know if he only ran the P2P test or the others (there are several tests you can perform) but other BT users have reported the same.

Some have said this was done in response to Sky and it may well be so but it certainly leaves Virgin on the back foot and what response will they come out with especially now that they are/will be under new ownership? Only time will tell.

Apparently this is the first ever post I've made on this forum so hello to all!

I only ran the torrent test.

[Chad]

I like the piece on the BT website:

"•Many other internet service providers put restrictions on certain types of internet traffic or a limit on how much you can download or upload which means that at peak times of day, customers may experience slower speeds.

•We don't think that's a good enough experience for BT customers so we have made all of our unlimited products 'Totally Unlimited'.

•'Totally Unlimited' means that you will be able to enjoy catch-up TV, streamed films, online gaming and other bandwidth-eating applications, without ever being slowed down by traffic management controls."

Personally this is the kind of commitment I'd like to see from all ISP's. It's a bold statement which appeals to me and my internet usage.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Chad

I like the piece on the BT website:

"•Many other internet service providers put restrictions on certain types of internet traffic or a limit on how much you can download or upload which means that at peak times of day, customers may experience slower speeds.

•We don't think that's a good enough experience for BT customers so we have made all of our unlimited products 'Totally Unlimited'.

•'Totally Unlimited' means that you will be able to enjoy catch-up TV, streamed films, online gaming and other bandwidth-eating applications, without ever being slowed down by traffic management controls."

Personally this is the kind of commitment I'd like to see from all ISP's. It's a bold statement which appeals to me and my internet usage.

All at a time when VM change their traffic management policy as well.

As Openreach are to begin rolling out FTTP on demand from the end of the month (it could take ISP's longer to offer it) it shows the infrastructure is there.

It certainly will leave VM on the back foot as Multicast for TV is also either now or becoming available for ISP's also. Sky would be able to give a good offering with that in place nationwide!

[Chad]

Originally Posted by pip08456

All at a time when VM change their traffic management policy as well.

As Openreach are to begin rolling out FTTP on demand from the end of the month (it could take ISP's longer to offer it) it shows the infrastructure is there.

It certainly will leave VM on the back foot as Multicast for TV is also either now or becoming available for ISP's also. Sky would be able to give a good offering with that in place nationwide!

Got to admit it makes Virgins policy look backwards. If this puts pressure on ISP's to go totally unlimited in an effort to compete for customers, great news for us as consumers! No denying Virgin have fantastic speeds but they ruin it with all their restrictions.

[craigj2k12]

Originally Posted by Chad

No denying Virgin have fantastic speeds but they ruin it with all their restrictions.

And their blatant disregard for capacity management

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by craigj2k12

And their blatant disregard for capacity management

The difference is that Openreach have the capacity and use slightly different rules to alleviate congestion.

With VM it takes months of planning for a reseg or whatever relief is needed, Openreach can do it in days if needed depending on the retailing ISP's requirements. Don't forget it is BT wholesale that supply the product that Openreach supply (on a residential basis) no matter what may have been said elsewhere otherwise they would be in breach of their remit.