Comcast Dropping 250GB Data Cap In Favor of "Improved Data Usage Management"

[MacRumors]

Several years ago, Comcast began instituting bandwidth caps of 250GB per month on its residential customers. In 2008, this was plenty for most customers, but with the advent of streaming video services like Netflix, Hulu, WatchESPN and others, some users have been concerned about whether the 250GB cap was sufficient for their needs.

Today, Comcast has announced it is revamping its cap system, instituting larger caps with the ability for customers to purchase additional gigabytes in blocks.

The first new approach will offer multi-tier usage allowances that incrementally increase usage allotments for each tier of high-speed data service from the current threshold. Thus, we'd start with a 300 GB usage allotment for our Internet Essentials, Economy, and Performance Tiers, and then we would have increasing data allotments for each successive tier of high speed data service (e.g., Blast and Extreme). The very few customers who use more data at each tier can buy additional gigabytes in increments/blocks (e.g., $10 for 50 GB).

The second new approach will increase our data usage thresholds for all tiers to 300 GB per month and also offer additional gigabytes in increments/blocks (e.g., $10 per 50 GB).

In both approaches, we'll be increasing the initial data usage threshold for our customers from today's 250 GB per month to at least 300 GB per month.

In its blog post, Comcast notes that it is continuing to "consider other ways to ensure that all of our customers are treated fairly and have a consistent and superior experience while using our residential high speed Internet service in the way in which it is intended."

Article Link: Comcast Dropping 250GB Data Cap In Favor of "Improved Data Usage Management"

 

[smithrh]

It was always a soft cap for me, went over 250G many times without a peep from Comcast.

Will have to learn more about this approach to see if it's something positive or negative. Guessing it's all about the revenue and going over the cap will mean charges, but we'll see.

 

[hirshnoc]

apple?

How is this related to Apple again?

Well, I suppose this was done in response to Apple going to 1080p movies/TV shows.

 

[Icaras]

How is this related to Apple again?

Well, I suppose this was done in response to Apple going to 1080p movies/TV shows.

Yea when Apple switched over to 1080p and I redownloaded all my movies and TV shows to the new resolution, I finally dipped over the 250 GB allotment.

So I think the increase in data cap and tiered plans are definitely welcome news for heavy iTunes store customers.

 

[KylePowers]

I remember when I blew past 250GB one month five or so years ago and got a warning from Comcast. That's pretty hard to do though.

But who knows, with 1080p movies (both iTunes and Netflix) and more things syncing and resyncing to the cloud, perhaps soon 300GB won't even be enough

 

[clibinarius]

I did over a TB and a half on FIOS in about a three week period...not a peep from Verizon.

 

[coder12]

Telephone companies:

please take note!

 

[rockstarjoe]

I am not a fan of Comcast / "Xfinity", but I think this policy is actually pretty fair. My household is pretty download heavy but we have only rarely bumped up against the limit.

 

[nutmac]

I am not clear on $10 per additional 50GB increment. I realize the plan is still in testing phase, but are they planning on charging $10 automatically when customer goes above 300GB?

 

[cvaldes]

How is this related to Apple again?

Well, I suppose this was done in response to Apple going to 1080p movies/TV shows.

iCloud also chews up a fair amount of network bandwidth, particularly in backing up your iOS devices, even if you aren't backing up the majority of your apps.

The latest iPhone records 1080p HD video and consequently the files are very large. If you are uploading these to online services like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, you are chewing up a lot of bandwidth.

Same with iCloud's PhotoStream feature. The 8-megapixel camera in the iPhone 4S creates JPEG files from 2-4MB in size.

 

[robanga]

Great news from Comcast. I have come very close to the 250GB a couple of times, most recently in March i was at 231GB.

..of course ultimately there is some way for them to raise prices in all of this but hey thats capitalism.

 

[BJMRamage]

Sounds good for Comcast/Xfinity users who might go near and aren't simply dropped but charged more if needed.

I switched to Verizon Fios and they don't seem to have any Cap/Data Limit in the books. Not that I got anywhere near 250GB when I had Comcrap.

 

[5aga]

Nothing but greed from good old Comcast.

where I live our local power utility currently has the fastest fiber optic in the country, up to 1000Mbps. It puts Comcast to shame, and its priced a little cheaper. It's also consistent with matching download/upload speeds.

oh yeah no data caps

glad I switched from one of the greediest companies around.

 

[bdavis89]

I am not clear on $10 per additional 50GB increment. I realize the plan is still in testing phase, but are they planning on charging $10 automatically when customer goes above 300GB?

This. Looks like they've found a way to charge for going over the "limit". Now it really will be a limit, unless you want to pay.

 

[iJon]

There's a much easier way to avoid data caps with Comcast. Sign up using Comcast Business Class. Same price, no data caps and faster speeds. Also, MUCH better tech support.

I was fearful when I moved from a city to Comcast territory, but signing up for Business Class has left me with 0 complaints. Service is rock solid and has been working great.

 

[foodog]

I am not clear on $10 per additional 50GB increment. I realize the plan is still in testing phase, but are they planning on charging $10 automatically when customer goes above 300GB?

Comcast business class has no caps, but is a tad bit more expensive.

 

[imgmkr]

Wow 300GB cap sounds like dream to be comparing what i pay here, 6GB/month at about $60US. And the speed is like 512kb/s tops. ^^;
it's a satellite link, it's better than nothing kkk

 

[rnizlek]

I think this is a good move, I always wondering why Comcast didn't give users the option of buying more data if they needed it. That being said, I refuse to do business with them out of principle - they spend millions a year lobbying against net neutrality and for anti-consumer policies. I don't want my money going to support that.

 

[heffeque]

I am not a fan of Comcast / "Xfinity", but I think this policy is actually pretty fair. My household is pretty download heavy but we have only rarely bumped up against the limit.

I'd say 2 TB limit and 5$ for every 500 GB excess would be fair.

It doesn't take very long to reach 300 GB with a 50 Mbps connection.

Ono (cable company in Spain) offers 15, 30, 50, 100 and 200 Mbps and none of them have bandwidth caps.

 

[Astro7x]

Well considering that Comcast is the only game in town, I'll gladly take the additional 50GB.

And I'd rather be charged $10 than to be banned from Comcast for a year...

 

[Peace]

Yea when Apple switched over to 1080p and I redownloaded all my movies and TV shows to the new resolution, I finally dipped over the 250 GB allotment.

So I think the increase in data cap and tiered plans are definitely welcome news for heavy iTunes store customers.

Ditto on that. My Comcast usage has been creeping up since iTunes went 1080P.

 

[jayducharme]

It looks like the "all you can eat" days are officially over. Data is now being treated as a utility, like water or electricity. The more you use, the more you pay. What that means is that people with limited financial resources will have limited access compared with wealthier people.

 

[rgarjr]

Like a lot have said, these companies are going backwards. Why though, because of greed. These companies are trying to find new ways to keep their CEO's wallets really fat and happy.

 

[heffeque]

It looks like the "all you can eat" days are officially over. Data is now being treated as a utility, like water or electricity. The more you use, the more you pay. What that means is that people with limited financial resources will have limited access compared with wealthier people.

In the US, if the US government doesn't do anything to stop it.

Other countries don't have that problem ;-)

 

[edoates]

Good; about time

It looks like the "all you can eat" days are officially over. Data is now being treated as a utility, like water or electricity. The more you use, the more you pay. What that means is that people with limited financial resources will have limited access compared with wealthier people.

All you can eat for a fixed price is simply not reasonable. With the proposed 300GB with whatever plan you buy, and 10$/50GB after that, the first 300GB are typically at a lower cost than additional data: progressive pricing. It works for electricity, gas, etc. It might be nice to have a "basic" data amount and rate (like lifeline telephone service or basic gas and electricity rates) so that everyone gets some, at an entry point even lower than the 300GB.

No one thinks you should get all the gasoline or electricity you want for one low price, do they? Same should apply to data. It is a limited resource, and the base amount is generous. I suspect that TOD pricing will follow: like a congestion tax, similar to how electricity is metered now. Data IS a utility.

Oh, and wealthier people will always have more access to stuff than poorer people, unless we all make the same amount of money; but that's socialism, and we don't do that here in the US. But if you like it, sure, vote for people here who would like to implement such a scheme. Don't hold your breath.