UPDATE: Those taking the option to leave the service will still be charged an 'exit-fee' =(. Seems extremely unfair. Customers of PlusNet's Broadband Plus and Home Surf packages will now be subject to a 30mins idle time-out. No activity for that period of time will result in the connection being automatically disconnected.

The measure, which was announced in an e-mail to customers today, may be familiar to users of dialup connections. However, unlike dialup, broadband has long been promoted for its 'always-on' nature.

PlusNet's aim is designed to free up IP's from congestion and improve latency for speed sensitive applications, such as voice-over-IP services (mind you, the connection has to be on for VoIP to work its best!). Thankfully it doesn't apply to the Broadband Premier and business accounts.

Idle time outs are easy enough to get around and 30mins is unlikely to be noticed, although we've seen broadband capping start small and grow big before too. Still, most PlusNet users are likely to be more concerned with the "Introduction of traffic prioritisation techniques to all broadband accounts.".