Virgin Media’s New 200Mbps Package Drops to 130Mbps at Peak Times

[Kushan]

I know this has been alluded many times and in many places, but the 200Mbit service is being particularly affected, it seems:

The new information came to light after the operator updated the statistics on their Broadband Speeds information page, which revealed that users of the 200Mbps package achieved an average speed over 24 hours of 170.05Mbps (Megabits per second) and 130.85Mbps during peak times (8pm-10pm).

By comparison customers of the operators 50Mbps package got an average of 51.81Mbps over 24 hours and 47.12Mbps at peak time, while those on the 100Mbps package received an average of 97.18Mbps over 24 hours and 83.93Mbps at peak times.

Sauce: http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...eak-times.html

I have noticed this as well.

If it keeps up, I will be contacting Customer Services.

[Synthetic]

Interesting, I'm moving back to a VM cabled area shortly and was planning to go for the 200Mbps package, I'm thinking I might as well go for the 150 now...

[Kushan]

I have yet to see 200mbit, fastest I've seen is about 180Mbit, it seems to hang around 170Mbit. This is actually an improvement than before where I was often hitting speeds of less than 50mbit during peak times.

[Synthetic]

Hmmm, can't decide whether to give it a go and downgrade if the 200 is no good.

In the past we've always hit the top speeds 99% of the time in our area (NE6) on 50, 100 and 152 so I was hoping it'd be the same for 200 but this issue seems more widespread than the usual area congestion.

[ileikcaek]

I must be one of the luckier ones, I haven't seen my 200Mb/s drop below 200 really, it's generally 209.5Mb/s.

[Stop It]

Igni just posted these stats on the VM community forum and someone accused him of not knowing what he was talking about. I love a bit of good comedy, but when someone says:

Also, since there is no information on where the data is coming from (these aren't speed tests)

When the source is clearly stated as the SK speed box system is oh so fun.

[qasdfdsaq]

Just when I thought I could finally stop insulting VM for having the most visible contention and peak-time congestion of any UK ISP, they turn around and do this.

[ileikcaek]

I agree with Qas, my connection may be fine but there's tons of issues with Virgin Media, the peering for one can be absolutely terrible at times and I have noticed a degradation of speeds and pings to other countries (USA & Europe) since some of it has been migrated to Aorta/UPC - Liberty Globals network, my pings have doubled in the last few years too, I used to consistently get 5 - 10ms to London but now it is 15 - 25ms, that may not sound bad but compared to what it was, to have that kind of network degradation seems poor form.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Interesting, I'm moving back to a VM cabled area shortly and was planning to go for the 200Mbps package, I'm thinking I might as well go for the 150 now...

You probably do right. I'm on 150 and always get about 158.

[jb66]

150 comes with 10meg upload, I dont think an extra 2meg upload justifies £7 extra per month for 200meg

[Daveoc64]

Speed tested 10 minutes ago, can't complain:

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/4859781241

I can certainly believe that VM hasn't done enough network improvement in busier areas to enable the upgrades.

[The Installer]

Not surprised about this.

Here is my Sam Knows data from the last 7 days, make of it what you will

200meg.PNG

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by The Installer

Not surprised about this.

Here is my Sam Knows data from the last 7 days, make of it what you will

Attachment 26395

This is far worse than the "average of 130Mbps" during peak periods .. I have requested to join the SK project and I suspect I will get a similar graph.

I have tried in the past complaining to the VM CEO but since we are into the 4th year of overutilsation, this did not have the desired effect

Should we email the CEP of Liberty Global to see what happens?

Originally Posted by jb66

150 comes with 10meg upload, I dont think an extra 2meg upload justifies £7 extra per month for 200meg

I don't pay any extra.