8 Million UK Internet Users Risk Broadband ISP Cut Off Due to Usage Limits

The latest survey from uSwitch has warned that confusion over Fair Usage Policies (FUP) and general UK ISP restrictions has put 8 million (48%) broadband consumers at risk of service limits and possibly even disconnection because they have no idea of their usage allowance. Some 7 million (38%) ISP customers were also found to believe that their broadband is "Unlimited" when in fact many internet providers will still monitor and limit their usage if necessary. The study claimed that 2 million customers (9%) have been contacted by their ISP for "excessive use" and 350,000 (2%) have even been penalised. The survey results are important because uSwitch claims that Brits now spend an average of 2 hours each week using the internet to watch films or TV. In addition a further hour is also spent playing online games, such as via video game consoles (Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBox 360 etc.). The study does at least single out Sky Broadband (BSkyB) for being one of the few mainstream (big) ISPs to offer a "truly unlimited" service, although a lot of smaller unbundled ( LLU ) Cable & Wireless (C&W) based providers offer something similar. Virgin Media also has a 50Mbps package where Traffic Management rules have yet to be applied. Excluding those and a few other providers, many broadband firms advertising "unlimited" cover themselves with a "Fair Usage Policy". While differing from ISP to ISP, the policy generally states that the company has the right to limit a customer's service when usage is deemed to be "excessive".

Source: http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/2010/06/14/8-million-uk-internet-users-risk-broadband-isp-cut-off-due-to-usage-limits.html