AT&T testing bandwidth limits along with Comcast, Time Warner
Broadband providers are getting tired of people hogging their networks, and have finally introduced limits on usage. AT&T is the latest to join a growing number of broadband companies to place 150-250 GB monthly limits on subscribers.
According to reports by CNet, AT&T is testing the idea of placing limits on how much Internet data its subscribers can transfer each month. The test has already begun in select areas such as Reno, Nevada, and will continue based on its effectiveness. The test limits customers of AT&T’s slowest DSL service to 20 gigabytes of monthly data transfers, while users of the fastest service will be limited to 150 gigabytes. Customers who exceed their limits will be charged $1 per gigabyte.
Beyond this newly imposed limit for new subscribers, existing subscribers will be held to a 150 GB limit regardless of their package level. The testing of limits on broadband usage arose after providers started noticing that large chunks of bandwidth were being used by certain groups of people, usually those that download movies/music heavily or those that are heavy gamers. Through the eyes of broadband providers, these groups of people were ruining the service for normal everyday users that only check email and do light internet browsing. AT&T estimates that just 5 percent of its subscribers use up to 50 percent of the network’s capacity.
As the internet continues to grow, and Web applications get more and more powerful, users will be using much more bandwidth than in recent times. Since broadband providers don’t necessarily have an infinite supply of bandwidth, they must impose rules to preserve the consistency of service for everyone. Though I don’t agree with imposing bandwidth limits, the limits that have been set so far are fairly large. Anyone that goes over 150-250 GB per month is considered a heavy user, and should be charged accordingly.
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February 8th, 2011
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