New Speed Upgrades 8th March. (Part 3)

Hi All....

We have again, received further reliable information regarding the long awaited ntl broadband speed upgrades. From 8th March 2005, 1MB, 2MB and 3MB broadband speed connections will be launched. ntl will be contacting existing customers and informing them of these upgrades.

It is important to note, that the majority of 750K and 1.5MB customers will be upgraded over the coming weeks. But some networks, in some areas need further upgrades, to ensure that all customers will eventually receive the speed upgrades though this might take some months.

Customers on the 750K package or 1.5MB package, will receive a FREE automatic upgrade to 2MB and 3MB. 750K customers with a black PACE Set top box and want to change to the new 2MB speed, need to arrange with ntl a Set top box swap, this will be a free swap.

Note that those 750K broadband customers with a black PACE Set top box, will receive a FREE automatic upgrade to 1MB if they do not arrange a Set top box swap as the black pace set top boxes are only able to provide the maximum of 1MB speed connection. Also note that there will be no change to the usage allowance (1GB daily).

300K customers will not be upgraded automatically. Customers can upgrade to 1MB if they accept a 3GB monthly usage allowance. Customers can either upgrade online or by calling customer services.

Once customers have upgraded to the new speeds, they will be unable to change back to the old speeds. Existing customers on 300K, 750K and 1.5MB cannot move between old speeds.

Just to remind customers of the upgrades and prices and usage allowances of these new speeds:-

* 300K = 1MB Price: £17.99 Usage allowance: 3GB Monthly
* 750K = 2MB Price: £24.99 Usage allowance: 1GB Daily
* 1.5MB = 3MB Price: £37.99 Usage allowance: 1GB Daily

Upload rates are as previously mentioned:-

1MB = 100K
2MB = 200K
3MB = 300K

Customers who exceed their usage allowance with the 1GB daily usage allowance may be contacted by ntl if their usage becomes excessive that it affects quality of service for other broadband customers. Customers on the 1MB connection with 3GB monthly usage, ntl will be monitoring and will identify those who exceed their usage allowance very often, however they will not be enforcing this allowance until later this year.

We have already posted a news item about this:-

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...from-8th-march

Originally Posted by Mick

Customers on the 1MB connection with 3GB daily usage, ntl will be monitoring and will identify those who exceed their usage allowance very often, however they will not be enforcing this allowance until later this year.

***ahem** I think you'll be getting people excited about this - 3GB a DAY!

[punky]

Woot. I hope someone finds/produces a timetable for updates though, so at least we know when its happening.

But if the 3mb service has the same cap as the 2mb service, I might as well downgrade.... £156 a year is a lot of money.

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

***ahem** I think you'll be getting people excited about this - 3GB a DAY!

Oops - Thanks John - Now ammended.

[Hans Gruber]

Does anyone know which areas will actually be upgraded on Tuesday?

[punky]

Originally Posted by Hans Gruber

Does anyone know which areas will actually be upgraded on Tuesday?

I have just caught this on DigitalSpy:

750K & 1.5Mb customers receive a free automatic upgrade to 2Mb and 3Mb,
there will be no change to their usage allowance & a postal letter will
inform them of their free upgrade (a webpage will inform them when their
upgrade will take place)

[Halcyon]

Hmm I think I'm going to get upgraded from my 300k to 1mb then.
I dont really know how much I use of the total 3GB monthly Cap.
Can anyone gve me any idea wether I would be going over if I do the following online:

- Download DJ mixes (About 100mb) 1 per week.
- Listen to online radio
- Download the odd video now and then.
- Lots of General net surfing

Would that be OK ?
Thanks.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Hmm I think I'm going to get upgraded from my 300k to 1mb then.
I dont really know how much I use of the total 3GB monthly Cap.
Can anyone gve me any idea wether I would be going over if I do the following online:

- Download DJ mixes (About 100mb) 1 per week.
- Listen to online radio
- Download the odd video now and then.
- Lots of General net surfing

Would that be OK ?
Thanks.

It all depends on the bitrate of the online radio and the length of time you listen. Also how long the video is, how it is encoded and how often now and then is. I would imagine you would be OK but download NetMeter http://readerror.gmxhome.de/ or something similar and do some checking.

[sav112]

Hal Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢m in the same boat, I was hopeing to download stuff on the new service but will be happy to just see the speed.



I download the odd mp3

Surf the net

E-mail

Play games and one game is FM2005 I play in a clan game and can be on 16hours a week. Itââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s the only thing I feel might be trouble, Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢m not the host but have no idea what it uses.

Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢ll try that net meter thing on Sunday for the day as Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢m playing my clan game at night

[punky]

It depends on how long you listen to radio, and how many videos you download.

Radio can be anything upto 70meg/hour
Videos can be almost any size, but music videos in mpg/avi for 3-4 mins are normally around 30-40meg each.
Normal web browsing for me is around 20-50meg/day so 1.5gb/month tops

So you are looking at just under 2gb/month general usage, plus whatever radio and videos you watch. You will probably under 3gb/month providing you don't listen to the radio every day (or listen to it on low quality)

[Geoff Payne]

Try using 'Networx' bandwidth monitor. It's a free download and free 30 day trial. It will give you an idea of your typical daily usage and produces daily/weekly/monthly stats

GSP

[Toto]

Originally Posted by punky

It depends on how long you listen to radio, and how many videos you download.

Radio can be anything upto 70meg/hour
Videos can be almost any size, but music videos in mpg/avi for 3-4 mins are normally around 30-40meg each.
Normal web browsing for me is around 20-50meg/day so 1.5gb/month tops

So you are looking at just under 2gb/month general usage, plus whatever radio and videos you watch. You will probably under 3gb/month providing you don't listen to the radio every day (or listen to it on low quality)

Don't forget, its the total upload and download that counts towards your allowance, so whilst 1Mb speed/ 3Gb data per month sounds OK for general needs, just remeber that if you also play online games, your uploads will contribute to the overall data count.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Geoff Payne

Try using 'Networx' bandwidth monitor. It's a free download and free 30 day trial. It will give you an idea of your typical daily usage and produces daily/weekly/monthly stats

GSP

Hi Geoff and to cableforum.

Sounds similar to Netmeter but Netmeter is free, not a trial.

Originally Posted by Hans Gruber

Does anyone know which areas will actually be upgraded on Tuesday?

I'm not sure anyone is being upgraded on the 8th - [new] users will be able to request these speeds as of the 8th - the upgrades will be over the next few weeks, but no specific starting date has been mentioned.

[mcmanic]

is there no post-code check like they did last time to give users a indication of when they get their free upgrade, when they did the 1.5meg upgrade i got it on the day they started automatically - hope this is the same (sussex area)