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BE Broadband

Hi,

Just had an interesting conversation with BE Broadband regarding setting up an account with them when I get my MAC code from my current ISP.
I chose the Be Pro 24MB package at £21.97/pm. I have been told that I would have a network contention ration of 1:1 and the package is 'Unlimited'. Now I have just been stung by BT (option 3) for going over my usage allowance which was supposedly 'Unlimited also but actually turns out to be 100GB/pm (I checked all over their site including their FUP, but there is no mention of the actual limit on the Option 3 package. I am currently speaking to them about this at the moment as I signed up for an 18 month contract last month and I am already being throttled down to 128Kb/s which is no good for watching streaming TV (legally via TVCatchup, BBC etc) for me or the other 3 flat mates that I live with.
Now BE Broadband have said that their package actually means unlimited, so I tested her by stating that I would sometimes need to back up some work servers to my home PC which may entail 2-3TB per month being transferred (this wouldn't actually happen, but I figured it would test their FUP), to which she stated wouldn't be an issue. This I find hard to believe, but I thought I'd ask here as to whether anyone know if their 'Unlimited' package is what they say it is and don't have any secret usage limits up their sleeves, like the majority of large ISP's (BT I'm looking at you)
So, has any one had any dealing with them?
 
I'm with BE and I've downloaded 100's of gigs in a month before, my thoughts are if you dont take the micheal they'll overlook it..
 
I wouldn't believe the thing about it being a 1:1 contention because that would mean they give you leased line style 100% dedicated bandwidth all the time, when in fact their platform - just like any other ISP - must share bandwidth for the service to be economical (otherwise you'd pay about £100 per month). I could be wrong but "contention" terminology can easily be confused with other things.

However much like Sky Broadband Unlimited, BE do have a reputation for being a very flexible ISP and their PRO package is clearly well designed to accommodate heavier use. Naturally you wouldn't actually want to use a consumer service for 2-3TB per month for such a low price, that's just ridiculous hehe, but as TRIaXOR says.. they will probably turn a blind eye so long as you don't go nuts :) .

By comparison BT has a reputation for being very restrictive.
 
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1:1 network contention & FUP

Thanks very much for the quick replies guys.

I was a bit sceptical about the 1:1 contention, but they said it was due to no one else in my area being on BE (our town isn't that small so not sure if I buy that) and I guessed that it would be more like TitanADSL (my ISP prior to BT) which was 20:1 whereas BT is 50:1.
I'm hoping to get my MAC code from BT this afternoon. They did give me one on Friday, but I was reluctant to use it until they could say for sure that I would have to pay the rest of the 17 months worth of contract first. I had written my email of complaint to Ian Livingstone the CEO of BT as I knew that it would get a better and quicker response from him rather that go the 'Help' road. I am currently dealing with his assistant and she has been very good so far. With regards the cancellation charges, she just needed to see proof that I was mis-sold an 'Unlimited' package when I chatted to the seller (BT site) on-line. I saved the conversation window in pdf form and have emailed that to his assistant also.
I live with 3 other blokes, and we all watch streaming TV and films via TVCatchup/ BBC iPlayer etc due to the fact that we only have 4 channels where we live and are unable to receive a Freeview signal via the TV. Sky is also out due to the flat being a listed building. I did try to explain to the seller this and she stated the Option 3 would suit me.

Hopefully, BE will be better. We don't take the **** at home, it's just that 4 people streaming different channels at the same time does add up bandwidth wise.
 
I was a bit sceptical about the 1:1 contention, but they said it was due to no one else in my area being on BE (our town isn't that small so not sure if I buy that) and I guessed that it would be more like TitanADSL (my ISP prior to BT) which was 20:1 whereas BT is 50:1.

Be/O2 should be very careful about saying things like 1:1 contention as it is just impossible and I very much doubt you're the only person with them ;)

They've recently had a lot of flak for selling an unlimited product (which is akin to 1:1) but them limiting customers to 10-40GB usage a month. Albeit on a different platform but it is still a promise or statement they have not been able to match.

BT have not offered a set contention ratio for many years*. So the old style 20:1 and 50:1 packages are long gone. Some estimate the current 8Mb packages are more like 8:1 based on the minimum acceptable line speed that BT deem at fault - but some predict it to be much higher.

(* on most consumer-grade products. Some high end SDSL products still have them).
Matt
 
They've recently had a lot of flak for selling an unlimited product (which is akin to 1:1) but them limiting customers to 10-40GB usage a month. Albeit on a different platform but it is still a promise or statement they have not been able to match.

IIRC its 20:1 not 1:1

And the BE Pro package isnt limited like this at all, I think you're confused by the value product..

bethere said:
What about your 40GB monthly download limit on the BE Value package?

If you take the BE Value package with a 40GB monthly download limit then after 30 June 2010, you are only entitled to download up to that limit each month. If you persistently download more than that amount we reserve the right to give you warning and then, if your usage does not immediately reduce to less than 40GB, move you onto an unlimited package. You will have to pay the increased package price for that package and will not be able to move back to the BE Value package.
 
I think Matt might be referring to O2's Home Access package given the "different platform" remark, which it should be said is not offered by BE ;) .
 
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