NTL to Offer 10Mb Service to All by End of Year

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NTL have released information on the restructuring of their broadband packages, which they aim to implement fully by the end of this year. The first to receive the new proposed speed of 10Mb will be users of their existing 3Mb service. NTL then hopes to offer a 10Mb service to all existing customers by 2006.

A revised bandwidth limit will see existing 3Mb customers given 75Gb, instead of 30Gb which is the advised limit at the moment. It is thought that customers on the 1Mb and 2Mb packages will be given smaller amounts of bandwidth a month, but with the same 10Mb speed shared throughout. NTL will also offer other packages with unlimited usage. NTL stated “For the first time, a customer will be able to match speed, usage allowance and price to their individual needs. A new broadband user will be able to enjoy the same 10Mb speed as an experienced surfer and as their online expertise grows, simply move up to a higher allowance.” Tools are expected to be included to monitor bandwidth usage.

Ahead of the launch of an all 10Mb service NTL also aims to include a flexible speed service. This will include a “Turbo Button”. This, according to NTL will provide customers with added flexibility to boost their speed, when large tasks like downloading video need to be completed quickly.

News source: ntl: Press Release

The 10Mb service isn’t the end for which seems to be an ever increasing NTL speed, NTL have plans to increase this speed as and when their framework has been tested fully. “Currently, an NTL technology trial in Chorleywood is delivering speeds of up to 20Mb to a school, small business and several homes. This level of speed and bandwidth offers the opportunity to enjoy a host of new services. These include high definition TV, 1000 channel global radio, video conferencing amongst friends & family, global gaming, low cost IP telephony, video email, and of course the things people already use broadband for, but at much greater speed.”

(9 replies) #1 LanMan874 on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:34

sounds good. But what about those still on 300kb/s connections? I'm still on it, i didnt move to the 1Mb simply because of the 3GB a month cap.

Will we still be stuck with this speed? Or will we get a better Cap if we move to 1MB? Even if my cap remains at 1GB a DAY, i will still more to 1Mb/s. But i guess this isn't gonna happen

#1.1 rob.derosa on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:39

youll prob go up to 10mb in the end. your cap would be lower since you are paying less (but i assume it would be more than 1gb/day)

#1.2 CarlNewton on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:44

I also refused to go up to 1Mb because of the cap. I think another upgrade would be nice

Just without the cap.

#1.3 Nitrate on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:55

I also refused to go to 1MB due to the cap. At 1MB you could download 3GB in about 7 hours so after downloading all those linux distros

what the hell am I supposed to do for the rest of the month.

I don't like the idea of extra ntl process and 'turbo' buttons either. My computer barely manages with firewalls and anti-viruses as it is and I have shut most uneccesary processes down. The 'Broadjump' software that came with the drivers from ntl was spyware so I am certainly not too keen on additional software monitoring my bandwidth usage and who knows what else.

If your paying for 10Mb/s then should you not have that all the time instead of silly turbo buttons?

#1.4 BlackAle on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:16

I doubt the 3GB cap will ever be an issue, it's only a guideline at the moment, and with this annoucement I doubt they're bother enforcing it anyways.

#1.5 Groovedude on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:52

no it does become an issue with the cap, a friend of mine ran into issues with NTL about the caps, many letters. lol i think he has left them now though.

#1.6 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:36

if you actualy read the article its an advised limit and therefor not enforced , so i dont really see how you friend has gotten into trouble with caps , as NTL have never had a CAP thats been ENFORCED its a GUILDLINE

#1.7 Murkey on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:52

Actually, that's not entirely true. The 1mbps service has an enforced cap, and if you exceed NTL's 3GB they will cut you down to 56k for the rest of the month. The caps for 2mbps and 3mbps are only recommended.

At least that's how I understood from the letter that came from NTL when we got the upgrade. My friends who used to be on the 300k service didn't want to upgrade because of the fact the 3GB would be enforced.

#1.8 mysterious_w on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:06

I'm another one still on the 300k service, I really wish I could get blueyonder in my area

#1.9 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:10

well since ntl and telewest are merging then you wont have to wait long

#2 kravex on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:37

Ha Ha

I pay £25 a month for 1MB and I can't change to another company!

Oh, thats not funny is it...

#3 streetwolf on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:39

Hehe... Already have 10/1 and pay $44.95/month (USD). My cable company is planning to offer 20/2 sometime in November.

(2 replies) #4 King Rilian on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:45

So, why would I not have the "turbo button" on all the time? Unless it costs more.

#4.1 RazorD on 08 Aug 2005 - 13:56

I think some plan already had this, or at least i remember hearing about it. I think they gave an allotted number of hours per month which it could be used for.

#4.2 antaris on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:03

Well, yeah, it probably would, when you switch on the proposed 'Turbo-button', you are transferring more data, at quicker speeds, so you will reach your cap a lot sooner than you would normally...when you pass your cap, you either pay a top-up fee, or become disabled till the next period.

(1 reply) #5 antaris on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:05

What we can be looking forward to (at a price of course), is broadband at network speeds, i mean proper 100mb a second LAN speeds. This of course, wont arrive for a number of years (well I say that, but look how quickly ADSL has jumped from 512Kb/s to now 10Mb/s)...

#5.1 bluetide on 09 Aug 2005 - 11:44

ntl boradband is not adsl its cable broadband it requires a cable modem not a asdl modem

(1 reply) #6 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:13

i certainly cant wait for this , im already on their 3mb package good news at no extra cost either

#6.1 bluetide on 09 Aug 2005 - 11:43

opps wrong section

(1 reply) #7 vassie on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:15

As posted by me at 09:55

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=355668

Ben

#7.1 rob.derosa on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:19

yeah. thats on the forum. did you actually submit the news on the main page?

#8 david.rothera on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:30

Yes, it is all well and good NTL doing this, but the cap is unsightly, even when doing legal downloads you will reach the present 30Gb very quickly if you are a medium-heavy user. And then the price they expect you to pay per GB over the limit is rediculous when you see what the going price for bandwidth is!

(1 reply) #9 BBinder on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:31

yay 10mb i'll be looking foreward to this speed

but.....

i dont agree that once we're all switch to 10mb we should be treated different
i think its unfair that an existing 3mb user should get more bandwidth than people who are on a different speed, i would rather be treated to the same speeds as everyone else thats my right as a consumer if everyone is on the same speed

#9.1 antaris on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:00

But what you have to understand is the new method for limiting customers. They will soon be getting rid of the 1mb/2mb/3mb divisions, and just offer you the full speed of your line, and charge you solely based on the data you transfer, so it makes sense that existing 3mb customers have a larger cap than a 1mb customer, post-upgrade.

#10 VLR on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:39

Be the fastest pirate on the web with NTL!

#11 jiggling_john on 08 Aug 2005 - 14:48

anyone know what the upload speed will be?

(1 reply) #12 OceanMotion on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:02

Upload speed will no doubt be crap as usual but there is hope.

#12.1 jon86 on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:12

You usually always get low upload speeds (in comparison with the download speed - ZenADSL is probably one of a few rare exceptions to the rule) with home consumer Internet connections, unfortunately. If you want a symmetric connection, there's SDSL.

(3 replies) #13 jon86 on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:08

I wonder when Telewest BlueYonder will jump on the bandwagon and provide this too.*

* currently on NTL 2048/200 package.

#13.1 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:20

when ntl and telewest merge no doubt

#13.2 Murkey on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:55

That's supposed to be likely as they're both cable companies who're having problems withstanding the onslaught of Sky...

Although a merger could hurt prices...

My £0.02

#13.3 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:12

the merger is going ahead and its set to be completed by the end of the year

(1 reply) #14 buchman on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:52

Why wait for this when you can move to f2s www.freedom2surf.net

they are currently upgrading and 8mb down, 864kb up is appearing on exchanges at a weekly rate. Their unlimited package only costs 22.50 p/m

#14.1 jon86 on 08 Aug 2005 - 17:24

because, if I recall correctly, to be in with a chance of getting 8 mbit ADSL, the distance of cable from you to telephone exchange has to be about 1km or less and I don't think there are a huge number of people who live that close to the exchange. The exchange also has to be Easynet LLU enabled. Whereas, with NTL and cable, it's a whole different matter and distance is quite a lot less important.

#15 Sphinx Myth on 08 Aug 2005 - 15:52

In France:
20MB (unlimited traffic) + 80 free digital TV channels + unlimited phone + WiFi + some other good stuff = 29.99€
I'm *very* happy...

(1 reply) #16 azz0r_wugg on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:12

So if

3 == 10

Does that mean that

2 == 7
1 == 4

?

#16.1 cashman on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:16

Everyone will be on 10Mb, just the usage limits will be different for each tier.

Maybe, this is just my own guess, not fact
Gold 10Mb - 75Gb Usage
Silver 10Mb - 50Gb Usage
Bronze 10Mb - 25Gb Usage

Its all in the press release. It looks like NTL will also offer other packages.

#17 bucko on 08 Aug 2005 - 16:22

Cool but I'm with Zen 512/256 but the great thing is there is no cap at all and you get a great ping in games.

(4 replies) #18 zom on 08 Aug 2005 - 17:49

all they got to do now is fix the crap set top boxes

#18.1 cashman on 08 Aug 2005 - 17:57

Agreed, there are two versions available though, I have the black version, it is just ugly, and slow...

#18.2 Fubar on 08 Aug 2005 - 18:19

i have the silver samsung one and it works flawlessly , you could always get a stand alone cable modem though

#18.3 cashman on 08 Aug 2005 - 19:01

Yes, I was referring to it being slow when accessing Interactive etc. The seperate cable modem works like a charm

#18.4 zom on 09 Aug 2005 - 13:46

I do use a seperate cable modem. Its the dark Pace set top box which is rubbish.

#19 DJ Prem on 08 Aug 2005 - 19:44

How about giving those people ntl promised Broadband nearly 2 years ago Broadband

ntl is total &*%&*(%%^

#20 pharrett on 08 Aug 2005 - 22:40

I've had 8Mb service with Time Warner for quite some time now. Luckily, they don't have a cap on usage. I'm waiting for FIOS to come to my town. 8Mb is nice, but 15 or 30 is better, especially with 2Mb up.

#21 gauravpatel on 11 Aug 2005 - 15:23

This is great news for NTL users, however I'm wondering when other ISP's like Pipex and BT will offer such services.

I only just got upgraded to Pipex's 1024/256 service from being on 512/256. :/

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