Posted: 05th May, 2011 By: MarkJ

Consumer internet and phone provider PlusNet UK, which claims to offer "
broadband that won't be beat on price", has announced that its
Plusnet Pro traffic prioritisation service will now be offered as a bolt-on extra for its existing broadband subscribers.
Customers of PlusNet's
Value and
Extra packages will be able to get the bolt-on for an
additional £5 per month. The service itself means that users will be "
guaranteed lower latency" and will not be subjected to any "
slowdown to their service".
Jamie Ford, CEO of Plusnet, said:
"Just like paying a little extra to do a fast check-in at the airport, Plusnet Pro is for users who want to ensure the best possible internet experience. With Fibre not yet available in many areas of the country this is the best service accessible to all the market to ensure lower latency and no rate limits at any time.
Prioritising service isn't simply about managing capacity at peak times, it is also about experience. All of our products offer a prioritised VoIP service so that facilities such as Skype and FaceTime run smoothly in the home – even when someone else in the house starts web browsing or streaming a TV show. As a Pro customer you will get this further prioritisation benefit when gaming or when using a VPN."
Gamers and those who make strong use of VoIP (Voice over IP) should be especially interested in the new solution, which might otherwise be negatively impacted by overzealous
Traffic Management solutions; especially at peak/busy times.
It should be said that traffic prioritisation services are offered by some other ISPs too, although they're usually attached to more expensive packages or business deals. Only a small number offer such features as a value-added extra for ordinary consumers.