ATandT cracking down on broadband users

Only 5% of users they say...just wait, it will expand. They are in the business of making money and will milk every tactic they can.

"AT&T to slow down speed of top 5 percent data consumers"

As more Internet users download videos and music streaming applications, networks become more clogged, which prompted telecom firms to stop limitless plans but instead charge subscribers for every byte they use.

by

Vittorio Hernandez

August 2nd, 2011

AHN

American telecom giant AT&T announced over the weekend that it would slow down the browsing speed of its top 5 percent data consumers.
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To be affected by the plan are unlimited data plan holders who are mostly long-time subscribers and maintained their unlimited plan, which AT&T stopped offering to new subscribers in June 2010.

The throttling would start on Oct. 1. AT&T announced the move through its website. The firm said normal browsing speeds will resume when the customers begin a new cycle.

However, the company assured that the change will not affect majority of its subscribers. The firm defended the change because it aims to create a better experience for all wireless subscribers.

As more Internet users download videos and music streaming applications, networks become more congested, which prompted telecom firms to stop limitless plans but instead charge subscribers for every byte they use.

T-Mobile throttles services for its unlimited subscribers whenever they hit the 5 gigabyte limit. Verizon Wireless stopped offering unlimited data plans in June. Only Sprint Nextel continues to offer uncapped data usage with no speed limit on heavy users.

AT&T said heavy users could still enjoy unthrottled access, but they have to change to a tiered plan, which would charge them more than their current plans. The announcement prompted critical comments on AT&T on Twitter and other consumer blogs.

The company said that the customers most affected by the move are those subscribers who use 12 times more data than the average smartphone customers. A recent survey found that the average AT&T smarphone subscriber uses 360 megabytes monthly, which would mean those exceeding 4 gigabytes every month would suffer from slower speeds in October.