Data Caps on ISP's

[Nefroz]

How do you guys feel about data caps on ISP, according to ISPs the internet has become a "scarce" resource, sounds like money grubbing to me. I was wondering how you other online gamers felt about paying the same amount for potentially less internet, I'm also wondering how large game companies like Blizzard will react to this as in the long term this will likely hurt their subscriber base.
stopthecap.com

[Djinni]

My understanding is that ISP's are introducing stricter data caps to prevent people from abusing the service (Hosting their own private servers on a home connection)

Admittedly though most UK companies only have Data caps on their very basic plans (£5-£10/m)aimed at casual facebook users, who want to connect via a PC rather than a phone (how they would normally do it) Most plans in excess of £15/m are "Unlimited".

Personally I'm ok with them as long as there is no chance that I'm going to hit this cap while using the service as intended. However I would object to some of the plans people in the USA have to sign up to ... e.g. the equivalent of £60/m for 100GB download limit, which lets be honest... most people would hit while using youtube everyday as their regular media player. (Very common)

[Nefroz]

Yeah I personally just had to up my plan after finding out I just went over my limit when I didn't even know they imposed a limit, no letter, no email nothing. The fact that none of them offer an unlimited plan also irks me, I'm paying the same price I was for three years for my internet but now its capped. Its like owning a ferrari but lol sorry you can only drive it 5 feet :P

[InfernalKatana]

The whole idea of the internet being a limited resource is complete nonsense. If you want some proof, how about a CEO that started his own ISP, Sonic.net.

http://twit.tv/show/triangulation/5

Basically his whole view on the matter is "you use all the bits you want, we'll make more"

[Badpaladin]

It takes some effort on the user's part to hit or go over the cap. In other words, downloading illegally is what's going to get you there. Streaming music and playing WoW won't get you near 150+ GB per month (most services are 250 GB anyways). I see nothing wrong with this.

[InfernalKatana]

It takes some effort on the user's part to hit or go over the cap. In other words, downloading illegally is what's going to get you there. Streaming music and playing WoW won't get you near 150+ GB per month (most services are 250 GB anyways). I see nothing wrong with this.

But that has nothing to do with actual limitations. You are basically saying "well to limit pirates we should have caps, if you're not pirating you'll never hit a cap." That might be true for TODAY, but what happens when the world starts watching 1080p (or even better 4k, /drool) streaming content over the web. You can burn through your cap in no time. It is my opinion that ISPs see that in the future and are implementing caps NOW, so that people get used to the idea, so that you will still buy cable to get your 1080p content, rather than getting it through the internet, which they don't make as much profit on.

[Nefroz]

Just downloading the initial patch for starwars killed most of my limit, netflix is my primary source of entertainment TV wise, I talked to the guy doing my usage and that is where the majority of it went, were those three things as well as youtube and basic surfing, and all that shot me up to 186 gigs 36 over my limit.

[Badpaladin]

But that has nothing to do with actual limitations. You are basically saying "well to limit pirates we should have caps, if you're not pirating you'll never hit a cap." That might be true for TODAY, but what happens when the world starts watching 1080p (or even better 4k, /drool) streaming content over the web. You can burn through your cap in no time. It is my opinion that ISPs see that in the future and are implementing caps NOW, so that people get used to the idea, so that you will still buy cable to get your 1080p content, rather than getting it through the internet, which they don't make as much profit on.

When did I say it had to do with limitations? Companies are smart enough to implement reasonable caps as technology and speed increase. I used to have a 150 GB cap on my old DSL line until I upgraded to a faster service -- my cap was expanded to 250 GB accordingly (hilariously enough I don't even reach 150 with it yet). They're not part of some conspiracy to keep high definition in the cable industry, especially with the current younger generations getting everything off the internet. From a business perspective, it only makes sense to invest in internet ventures.

[Nefroz]

I'm sorry I'm not to fond of the idea of having to watch my data usage constantly so they don't start charging me fees, because my isps want to tell me the internet has become a scarce resource, and not even give me the option to have unlimited data, instead they charge me the same rates I've been having but restrict my internet, and threaten to charge me more for a service I have had for 3 years as a loyal customer and tell me that 99% never go over 100 MBS a month. Why should I or anyone have to deal with such an obvious money making scheme that its ridiculous, because judging from my usage hitting 150 on how I surf the web is plenty easy since its only the 11th.

I mean sure I could stay under 150 gbs a month if I wanted everything I saw on the internet to look like

http://stopthecap.com/2011/04/07/spe...the-exception/
Further Reading

If Albania can deliver unlimited Internet access, why can’t your provider?

[Nefroz]

Wait... what? Now you're going OTT. Honestly, i used to do just about fine with a 50GB/month cap, and it was only when there was WoW 4.0 on PTR or new games i wanted on Steam that it became an issue. Outside of that, i had no issues, and i wasn't a particularly light user. However, i upgraded to 200GB a few months ago just so i absolutely wouldn't have an issue even with game downloads and such.

Honestly, people that claim they need 150GB just for basic web browsing really annoy me. It's not even about moderation, it's simply about not being stupid and purposely opening up all of the first 10000 links you got on Google when you searched for "free porn".

yeah I'm exaggerating a little with the picture, and 250 should be fine, but that does not make it right, but if I desire to open the first 10000 links when I want some porn that should be my own damn right as a paying customer to do so.

[Xevan]

I've got a 500GB cap and my usage has never exceeded 70GB. Gaming and Browsing wont get you anywhere near a reasonable cap.

[Nefroz]

I've got a 500GB cap and my usage has never exceeded 70GB. Gaming and Browsing wont get you anywhere near a reasonable cap.

except I exceeded my cap by 36 gbs on just that alone? Bear in mind I'm not the only gamer, browser netflix watcher in his household.

[Djinni]

I think some people are forgetting that these limits apply to the connection, and not the individual user. Therefore rather a lot hard to conform to when you have a family of 3+.

[anveena]

I got a 120GB cap and I've came close a few times to it. Well I also share my connection with someone else so I'm actually surprised it's never went over the cap.

[Angrybathtub]

In canada (Ontario specifically), almost all ISPs have caps except for a few smaller unknown ones.

[Nefroz]

I think some people are forgetting that these limits apply to the connection, and not the individual user. Therefore rather a lot hard to conform to when you have a family of 3+.

This a thousand times this

[Deleted]

It takes some effort on the user's part to hit or go over the cap. In other words, downloading illegally is what's going to get you there. Streaming music and playing WoW won't get you near 150+ GB per month (most services are 250 GB anyways). I see nothing wrong with this.

The service I use reaches a max of 150gb download, they give a unlimted download between 12am and 8am which is pretty stupid because that's when people will leave torrents on to download over night.

[Deleted]

Considering I use around 0.5-1tb a month I would be very mad if my ISP decide to add caps, but they will not do that since then I can just switch to another isp since non Isp in Sweden uses caps (unless you are buying wireless)

[plaze6288]

id be pissed i have a lot of people in my house and someones always watching netflix,youtube, or playing PSN or Xbox. we would hit the cap in days. Not to mention im on the internet for like 4-5 hours a day and so are the most of the people in my house.

STOP THE CAP

[Nefroz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_scarcity

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...congestion.ars

http://stopthecap.com/2011/11/22/int...440gb-by-2015/ thats 3 years bro

That's just some of the things I was looking into on the subject, I saw something yesterday on my phone that also mentioned that as time goes on it gets cheaper and cheaper to upgrade those lines, and that wired connections have quite a bit of room for advancement. Wireless networks are more effected by congestion however.