Sky Connect "Traffic Shaping"

Poodmund

Poodmund

Poodmund

Associate
Joined
2 Sep 2009
Posts
482
Location
UK
Recently just switched to Sky's TV+Broadband+Phone package and being in a low population area had to take the Sky Connect Wholesale option. Now I knew they throttled the connection back between 5 and Midnight but seeing as Sky on 5 occasions wouldn't admit to me what speeds they throttle to and the fact that I wasn't paying the final bill I thought that I couldn't complain that much... however since the switch between the specified peak times of 5-Midnight this is the service I am receiving on a daily basis:

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This is ridiculous and completely unacceptable and will be looking to terminate the contract ASAP.

Just a warning to anyone contemplating signing up for the Sky Connect package, stay away from it like the plague. Do you think Dial Up speed is acceptable in 2011?
 
If you read about sky connect on here it is regarded as one of the worst connections available. I don't think Sky should offer this product at all as it just gives their broadband a bad name, which is a shame as their LLU is top notch.

If you want decent BB where you are you will probably need to pay decent money for it I'm afraid.
 
I've done a bit of looking around and it seems the only options are either BT, ADSL24 or Vivaciti. I use around 40GB a month which is handy as most packages cater for this total but does anyone have first hand experience with the other two (ADSL24 and Vivaciti) as I can't receive any kind of LLU service so a BT Line is the only option.
 
just go with BT, get the unlimited package at 27.99 a month, if you are in a market 1 exchange like me don't waste your time with anyone else, I tried and failed
 
Called up SKY today to cancel the Connect and Phone contracts and request migration code and after phoned BT explained what the situation was and got transferred to their 'Special Offers Team' in the Broadband & Calls department.

Anyway, a very helpful women is phoning back tomorrow to take down the details but will be getting BT Total Broadband Option 3 and the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Calls packages for £13 p/month + £13.60 line rental for a 12 month contract with all the included trimmings. So it seems something good did come out of all this after all.

A happy guy right now.

EDIT: Option 3 is the 300GB a month limit with no throttling package if you weren't savvy with the offerings.
 
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In order for the product to be classed as broadband, he has to achieve a certain speed, if it doesn't the contract can be terminated, i had a situation where BT throttled me to 100k, called up and they removed the restriction.
 
Poodmund said:
EDIT: Option 3 is the 300GB a month limit with no throttling package if you weren't savvy with the offerings.
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They lied.

Even option 3 has throttling between 5- 12 if your a heavy user and they traffic shape p2p traffic...

Customers who are classified as very heavy users will experience significantly reduced speed at peak times (typically 5pm-midnight every day but these times may change depending on the demand on the network) for a period of 30 days, or for as long as very heavy use continues. This applies to customers on all Options.

5. What is BT's policy on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications?

P2P refers to certain applications that enable files and program sharing between groups of people logged on to a P2P network. Because they use uploads and downloads and are often left running 24/7, they consume significant bandwidth, even when being used by just a small number of customers.

Because a lot of P2P traffic is not time-critical, e.g., downloading and uploading TV programmes or movies for later viewing, we treat P2P traffic differently from time-critical traffic (such as surfing, streaming or internet telephony) and apply speed restrictions to all P2P traffic. We manage these restrictions daily based on the demands on the network, but downstream restrictions will typically be in place 4pm - midnight on weekdays and 9am - midnight on the weekend. Upstream restrictions may be in place at other times

P.S BT will put you on exactly the same system as Sky as THEY own the equipment that the connect package is run on. If you cannot get ADSL2 and there are no LLU providers you will always be on BT's equipment no matter what ISP you go with.
 
I think you misread what they mean by very heavy user. A heavy user is someone who breaks the FUP limit (300GB).

As for torrents, they throttle that irrespective of usage.
 
when i spoke to BT they said its irrelevent.....

if you leave your pc on 27/4 downloading in peak times they can shape you

unlimited downloading to them doesnt mean you can download 24/7 till you reach 300gb as that would have an impact on their customer base.
 
enigma27 said:
when i spoke to BT they said its irrelevent.....

if you leave your pc on 27/4 downloading in peak times they can shape you

unlimited downloading to them doesnt mean you can download 24/7 till you reach 300gb as that would have an impact on their customer base.
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Thats what their FUP says. (24/7 downloading will break 300GB in no time anyway)

B. Network Management

4. What is BT's Traffic Management Policy?

BT continuously monitors network performance and reduces the speed available to very heavy users (typically less than 1 per cent of all customers) during a given month to ensure that the service received by other customers is not impacted through extremely heavy usage by a minority of people.
Customers who are classified as very heavy users will experience significantly reduced speed at peak times (typically 5pm-midnight every day but these times may change depending on the demand on the network) for a period of 30 days, or for as long as very heavy use continues. This applies to customers on all Options.
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This is clearly referring to FUP limits. They aren't going to throttle a 200GB user for 30 days. I regularly use 250-300GB a month (pretty much all my usage is peak). I am only a heavy user if I go over 300GB.
 
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Poodmund said:
Anyway, a very helpful women is phoning back tomorrow to take down the details but will be getting BT Total Broadband Option 3 and the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Calls packages for £13 p/month + £13.60 line rental for a 12 month contract with all the included trimmings. So it seems something good did come out of all this after all.

A happy guy right now.
.
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That's just an introductory rate right? I thought Option 3 was £27.99 a month.

As for people suggesting Zen,

http://www.zen.co.uk/home-office/broadband/home-office-broadband.aspx

£25.52 for 50GB? Yeh whatever.
 
Dont go Sky connect unless you know your exchange is going to be unbundled soon. Its the worst service ever! It does not matter what you download you WILL be throttled between 4PM and 12 AM there abouts. You will also see benefits with sky over BT as your top end speeds and limits as out of peak times you will receive 25% better speeds with Sky. If you know its coming soon stick with it and if not change but you will lose some speed with BT. Just check at Sameknows and check what services you have available. Sky should be the easy choice if you can manage your activities with there policy until your exchange is unbundled.
 
TWiNKLeT0Es said:
Dont go Sky connect unless you know your exchange is going to be unbundled soon. Its the worst service ever! It does not matter what you download you WILL be throttled between 4PM and 12 AM there abouts. You will also see benefits with sky over BT as your top end speeds and limits as out of peak times you will receive 25% better speeds with Sky. If you know its coming soon stick with it and if not change but you will lose some speed with BT. Just check at Sameknows and check what services you have available. Sky should be the easy choice if you can manage your activities with there policy until your exchange is unbundled.
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hi twinkle im sorry to msg u here but going from my agp gfx thread i cant find a button to message people on here for some reason... if you still have that 9800se .... i fried my 9800 its artifacting like crazy... lol
 
Sure Walter the interface is not so simple here but yes sure. Ill add you somehow ill find it.

You just need to pay the postage its yours hun.

I think i completed the annoying trust thing?

Oh...

walter22 Account Info said:
walter22 has not configured his/her trust account
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Sky Connects download allowance is 40GB, but it's not quite that simple. Apparently it's broken down into daily allowances almost, which works out about 1.3GB per day. Download that much in one day and your connection is likely to be throttled for a few days. Go way over that and the throttling will last for longer. if you go over 40GB then expect thorttling for a whole month!
 
this is why im going to talk talk :) i get 0.08MB/s all day, used to be when it came to 5PM internet would go very slow but recently its 24/7.

and my package is unlimited and i was told face to face fare usage policy was 80gb a month.
 
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