Is traffic shaping justifiable?

[Nick]

I am not a heavy user, but I find some ISPs who use traffic shaping for only heavy users is quite understandable. They have to ensure that their network capacity meets the majority of the customers' bandwith needs.

I think this traffic shaping will help all subscribers to get enough bandwidth. When a few people indulge in downloading movies or watching streaming videos for hours, they cause congestion in exchanges and therefore should be managed, in my opinion.

[saubryn]

I think it's acceptable - the heaviest users (and I admit I'm one of them) do have an impact on the connection quality for the rest of the users. If the ISP is running at an acceptable contention ratio, and still has trouble with a few users, then limitin them is OK. It's when they use such tactics to avoid keeping sensible user limits, and overload the UBRs, etc, that I think it's wrong.

[Hazel]

Sorry, i'm not quite sure what you mean by traffic shaping. Is that when they prevent certain types of downloads such as torrents etc. or is it merely limiting heavy users?

If it's merely limiting heavy users, then it's acceptable within reason.

[Tom]

I Disagree.


Whats so UNLIMITED about a boradband package with a peak-time usage cap?

I think those who aren't heavy downloaders should get a limited package, those who do download a lot should get an unlimited package, and ISP's should do away with those "fair" usage policies.

Well that's just my thought anyway.

[Hazel]

That's a fine stance to take, but the heavy downloaders must pay more for an unlimited package. Remember, the heavy downloaders aren't the only ones using the connection. They're usage affects other people's speeds.

[Tom]

That's what I mean. Unlimited providers should charge more and drop the FUP, people who don't really need unlimited could then save themselves money by getting a limited package.

That way everyone is happy.

[JenniP]

Wikipedia has a good defination of Traffic Shaping.

So if it is PURELY on the grounds to let time sensitive traffic such as VOIP and Video on demand through then yes of course its justified. However most ISPs who use it and port throttling to control usage of things like BitTorrent certainly arent justified.

If you pay for "Unlimited" you should get unlimited in what ever way you feel. Saying that I have no problem if Bit Torrent is shaped and throttled IF the ISP is upfront in saying so, and only does it on a timed basis.

My ISP I get 2 caps, a peak time cap (8am-10pm M-F) of 60GB a month, so I dont Torrent or at least throttle it myself, giving the average every day user the bandwidth to do what they like without the network being hammered, however my off-peak cap (10pm-8am M-F and all weekend) is 330GB, and I know I can do what I like.

All of this is explained up front, I know what the rules are, and their usage reports help you keep a track of things.

Jen

[saubryn]

I don't have a problem with limiting torrent traffic or other peer to peer type traffic - the majority of torrent users are downloading things illegally aren't they (yes I know some people use torrents for legit purposes, but it is rare by comparison)? My problem is when the caps are stupid - the 2GB a month some people are limited to would be gone if they had to re-install their OS, and then patch all their apps and games.

I also dislike it when an 'unlimited' package turns into a capped one - my work requires me to upload and download large files on a daily basis, and the new speed caps Virgin are imposing on my once Telewest service at peak times is quite irritating.

Maybe I should have a business account to cover my usage, but there are people who have hobbies that involve lots of legal downloads too. Why should they suffer?

[attagirl]

For me it really comes down to them having to do something or else the rest of us might not be able to get the access when we need to on particular sites. Some people are constantly downloading torrent files and therefore they really should be limited.

[Smash]

Wel I think it comes down to them overselling their connections forcing this to happen in the first place.

My ISP has a Peak Hours clause which states that you should do loads of downloading between 6pm and midnight, but outside of these hours and I D/L as much as I want. I'm happy with this, it's unlimited so as long as I don't run torrents etc during these hours I'm fine.

I just leave my machine switched on over night anyway - and get to see what I've got in the morning - I good motivator to get outta bed, hehe.