The latest survey from uSwitch has warned that confusion over Fair Usage Policies (FUP) and general UK ISP restrictions has put 8 million (48%) broadband consumers at risk of service limits and possibly even disconnection because they have no idea of their usage allowance.

Some 7 million (38%) ISP customers were also found to believe that their broadband is "Unlimited" when in fact many internet providers will still monitor and limit their usage if necessary. The study claimed that 2 million customers (9%) have been contacted by their ISP for "excessive use" and 350,000 (2%) have even been penalised.

The survey results are important because uSwitch claims that Brits now spend an average of 2 hours each week using the internet to watch films or TV. In addition a further hour is also spent playing online games, such as via video game consoles (Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBox 360 etc.).


The study does at least single out Sky Broadband (BSkyB) for being one of the few mainstream (big) ISPs to offer a "truly unlimited" service, although a lot of smaller unbundled ( LLU ) Cable & Wireless (C&W) based providers offer something similar. Virgin Media also has a 50Mbps package where Traffic Management rules have yet to be applied.

Excluding those and a few other providers, many broadband firms advertising "unlimited" cover themselves with a "Fair Usage Policy". While differing from ISP to ISP, the policy generally states that the company has the right to limit a customer's service when usage is deemed to be "excessive".

Sadly only a few broadband providers actually define the term "excessive" and instead prefer to adopt some very vague language. This makes it virtually impossible for a customer to know the exact point they will go over the limit. In a few rare cases, such as on the O2 Home Access package, the service will be advertised as "unlimited" but still appear to apply a restriction in the small print.

Related News:
26th May 2010 - O2 UK Clarifies Unlimited Broadband Limits After Heavy User Cut-off Threats

Some ISPs do still adopt clear usage limits, although in such an aggressively competitive market these often appear less marketable and can lead to some consumers perceiving them as being more expensive. In reality many ISPs who offer "unlimited" with a FUP are simply being less clear about flexibility on the same type of service. Dishonest or misleading are other words that come to mind.

Related Article:
7th April 2010 - Uncovering ISP Fair Usage Policies (FUP) and Traffic Shaping

It's surely no coincidence that this survey has come out just as the 2010 Fifa Worldcup begins. Recent weeks have seen many analysts and ISPs raising concern about the need to be aware of how much you are downloading, such as when viewing an online video stream of worldcup matches.