Heaviest Virgin Media downloaders face new daytime go-slow

[Guest Swiftie]

Virgin Media will double the number of hours it throttles the bandwidth of customers who hammer its network day and night, changes to its traffic management policy have revealed.The tightened regime means that between 10am and 3pm subscribers to its "M", "L" and "XL" packages will have their connection throttled for five hours if they download more than their full speed ration.The decision follows recent regional testing of extended restrictions in London and the North West. Previously the brakes were only slammed on for five hours if limits were exceeded at any point between 4pm and 9pm.Now, "M" customers who bust 900MB during the day will have their theoretical maximum download halved from 2Mbit/s to 1Mbit/s. "L" and "XL" users' usual headline speeds of 10MBit/s and 20MBit/s will be slowed by three quarters if they break daytime download limits of 2400MB and 6000MB respectively.The download thresholds for the daytime throttling period are double those of the evening period, which also restricts uploads. We've reproduced Virgin Media's explanatory table below:Virgin Media says that at current levels of demand, one per cent of its 3.8 million customers will be affected by the new daytime restrictions. In the evening, when ISP networks are under most strain, traffic limits are aimed at the top five per cent heaviest users.A spokesman said the new rules are necessary to ensure quality of service for the majority. The move will nevertheless anger some who have been tricked into believing that "unlimited" broadband actually exists by years of crummy marketing by the ISP industry.The cable monopoly, created by the merger of NTL and Telewest in 2006, is currently working to boost its top speed to 50MBit/s as part of its strategy to put broadband at the centre of its quadruple-play offering. recent trials to ramp Virgin Media's 10Gbit/s backhaul to 40GBit/s in support of the upgrade were successful.

[HangTheDJ]

ffsvirgin are beginning to piss me off nowso its10-3 now and as well as 5-12 beforeso the only times you can download carefee are between 3-5pm that isnt in the middle of the night?

[Guest Swiftie]

10am - 3pm (Daytime Downstream throttling)4pm - 9pm (Evening Downstream throttling)3pm 8pm (Upstream throttling.)So they've gone from just 5 hours of throttling during the whole day before to now 15 hours if you account the upstream 1.

[djbmc]

switch providers aint no thang

[Necksta]

There needs to be more companies that offer cable broadband. I'd switch straight away.

[HangTheDJ]

There needs to be more companies that offer cable broadband. I'd switch straight away.

[Adidas]

LMAO*Kisses AOL*I knew they'd sort themselves out.

[Jam]

LMAO*Kisses AOL*I knew they'd sort themselves out.

[Jubez II]

f*ck I'm looking to get with these guys no homo.

[Dan.]

this sh*t is killing mei dont even download much n this thing creeps upon melike being on dial up again

[Guest Swiftie]

this sh*t is killing mei dont even download much n this thing creeps upon melike being on dial up again

Expect one these very soon then.

[HangTheDJ]

They are chatting sh*t.I downloaded about 15GB the other day, and then I couldnt connect to an FM network game cos I was lagging so bad.I'm on XL service as well.

[BATTY BOY BUM BANDIT]

Virgin chat f*ck*ng wet.They make me sick. Only reason Im with them is cos I get two HD boxes, and the telephone service aswell. My mum wont let my old man chage to sky.I remember when they were telling us we had 20mb broadband and max we could ever possibly get was like 4mb. I knwo theres certain limitations to there speeds but thats disgusting.How can they restrcit how much you download when they initially sold it you on a 'unlimited' basis taking the pissssssss

[HangTheDJ]

See I'm still happy with their service.I pretty much always get 20MB, if I take the piss with my downloads though, I still get about 12-14mb.But I live in the city centre, so I guess I'm right ontop of an exchange

[Guest Remy Lebeau]

my sh*t has got fasteri dunno about you man...virgin have never messed with my interwebz

[DRC]

I swear this enables you to cancel your contract.They are issuing new restrictions to which you did not previously sign"detrimental variation" I believe its called. They're breaching the contract you initially signed thats why they have to send the later to inform you of the changes-them sending the letter telling you of the changes permits you 30days to cancel and switch provider.If you don't cancel within 30days you are subsequently agreeing to the changes

[Skola]

3-4pm is the key time then.ive never really noticed this and some days i download alot.im on M, so thats:1 gig between 10 and 3and 0.5 gig between 4 and 9and they try and say that will only affect 1% of usersf*ck me most people aint really gettin the most out of their connection then.

[Creed Diskenth]

report themnuff people r gonna complain*waits to see in computer active*

[VonBoyage]

I swear this enables you to cancel your contract.They are issuing new restrictions to which you did not previously sign"detrimental variation" I believe its called. They're breaching the contract you initially signed thats why they have to send the later to inform you of the changes-them sending the letter telling you of the changes permits you 30days to cancel and switch provider.If you don't cancel within 30days you are subsequently agreeing to the changes

ThisSo f*ck*ng on point DRC, i like it.