Subscribers hit Globe P2P bandwidth cap

[p2p rules]

At least two hundred Globe Broadband subscribers have joined an online petition demanding the removal of an alleged bandwidth cap imposed by local telecommunications firm Globe Telecom on peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic.

The petition (), which started last week, noted that a 20-percent cap was implemented by Globe Telecom on its Globe Broadband Internet subscribers, reducing the use of non-HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) services, namely P2P applications.

P2P is a file sharing mechanism allowing users to download and upload various files from other users’ computers.

The petition also alleged that Globe Telecom violated the principle of “network neutrality” or non-restriction of Internet content by implementing selective control mechanisms that allocate bandwidth to HTTP and non-HTTP sites.

Globe was also accused of violating privacy issues by utilizing deep packet inspection (DPI), a technology that describes system that inspects all packets passing through “checkpoints” to evaluate security compliance of data.

“It is not fair for us to pay for a certain amount of bandwidth only to be cheated out of it by mechanisms such as this. If a subscriber pays for a 1mbps [megabits per second] connection, 1mbps of connection should be made available without limits or exceptions to how that subscriber chooses to utilize it,” the petition stated.

In a statement sent to INQUIRER.net, Globe Telecoms denied that was implementing bandwidth cap, stating that there was a “network activity” last May 15, which could explain the P2P traffic jam.

“This is being corrected today and your connection experience will be back by tomorrow,” which would be on Tuesday, May 19, Globe said.

The company also stressed that it would have to evaluate its network infrastructure and “take appropriate actions” upon detection of subscribers’ bandwidth abuse that could affect its service quality.

“This measure will only be taken if there is a clear need to protect all Globe subscribers from a few abusive users,” the company added in its statement.

source: Inquirer

[DaBees-Knees]

It would be far simpler to admit that they have over sold bandwidth and it is catching up with them, but then that would be admitting the truth and show poor management. They must keep the profits rolling in at all costs. Since when did giving customers a fair deal become #1 priority? I know of no other industry that gets away so blatantly with not providing what the customer pays for and has the audacity to claim that it is entitled to do so.

[Forested665]

The problem is selectivity. if they stop selling to new customers then they can be sued for discrimination and what not.
What they have done is expanded their coverage area without upgrading their backbone, or creating a new one. this requires them to do one of the following:
1) impose usage caps
2) Throttle
3) update modem software to automatically disconnect when not in use like Bellsouth
4)Take reserve funds and upgrade the back bone, though the funds are usually used to expand area and one of the former is imposed.
5) the best decision in the long run, is to stop expanding and use profits from existing area to upgrade the backbone to handle 25% more then what is currently on it and then begin expanding again.