Log in

View Full Version : Verizon Throttling The Top 5% of Bandwidth Users


Michael Knutson
02-04-2011, 07:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/03/verizon-wireless-to-begin-throttling-data-speeds-of-heaviest-users-optimizing-content-starts-today/' target='_blank'>http://www.bgr.com/2011/02/03/veriz...t-starts-today/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"According to a PDF memo available on Verizon Wireless' website (for now), the company will begin to throttle the data-throughput speeds of customers that consume an "extraordinary amount of data" and "seamlessly" optimize content for smartphones."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1296799600.usr17748.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Interesting that Verizon's capacity management process/restrictions "may" be implemented for data users that are in the top 5% of all customers in terms of usage. &nbsp;There is a large gray area as to what constitutes abuse of the network. If a user takes advantage of some of Verizon's media offerings, and uses a lot of bandwidth in the process, should they be penalized (throttled)? I haven't seen Verizon's contracts, but if a user contracts for "unlimited" use, and isn't doing anything illegal or unethical, should they be penalized? I wonder if this is an issue in countries with much higher bandwidth available, like South Korea or Sweden. Thoughts, readers? Should Verizon be threatening this?</p>

Brad Adrian
02-04-2011, 02:14 PM
This is just typical, hypocritical rhetoric that all carriers spout. On the one hand, they say, "We've got great speeds; come take advantage of them." On the other, they say, "But if you do, we'll penalize you."

They want to have their cake and eat it, too.

Sven Johannsen
02-06-2011, 07:16 PM
I use so much less than 5G on a regular basis, I can't imagine what those gluttons that are in the top 5% are doing. Well I can imagine..sorta. Your cell phone isn't intended to be your radio and TV, IMHO. Those features are available, but aren't intended to be used 24x7. Personnaly, I'd just as soon listen to my own music (ripped), and watching video on even my larger screen phones isn't the most satisfying. If you are using your cell plan to tether to a router and support your household, well, again, this really isn't the point of data on the go plans. Part of the issue is the ever increasing data rate that is 'available'. Mathematically you can burn through more bits faster. Not sure when diminishing returns kicks in, where you can get data into the phone faster than it can do anything with it, but we have to be getting closer. I have no issues with reasonable data caps, and reasonable responses to exceeding them. I'd much rather get throttled, than get unexpected data charges. Honesty on the part of the carriers would be refreshing though. Likely won't ever be a problem for me though. I'm in the top 5% on a lot of things, but this isn't one of them.