Plusnet offering broadband completely without limits
Many broadband suppliers claim that they offer completely unlimited broadband, but when you dig down into the terms and conditions, you find that there’s actually some rather severe limits. If you pass them, then you’ll find your connection suddenly throttled to within an inch of its life.
Plusnet claims to be different. There’s no caps, no ‘fair usage limits’ and although they employ traffic shaping products, they’re completely open about what they shape and when they shape it. Here’s their chart:
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Plusnet Unlimited expected maximum downstream speeds
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|||||||||
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2am to 12pm
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12pm to 2pm
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2pm to 4pm
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4pm to 6pm
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6pm to 8pm
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8pm to 10pm
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10pm to 11pm
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11pm to 12am
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12am to 2am
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Peer-to-Peer
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Line speed
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512Kbps
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256Kbps
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164Kbps
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128Kbps
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128Kbps
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256Kbps
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512Kbps
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Line speed
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Binary USENET
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Line speed
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512Kbps
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256Kbps
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164Kbps
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128Kbps
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128Kbps
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256Kbps
|
512Kbps
|
Line speed
|
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External FTP
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Line speed
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512Kbps
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256Kbps
|
256Kbps
|
256Kbps
|
164Kbps
|
256Kbps
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512Kbps
|
Line speed
|
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VPN
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
|
2Mbps
|
|
Download sites
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Line speed
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1Mbps
|
1Mbps
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512Kbps
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256Kbps
|
256Kbps
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256Kbps
|
512Kbps
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Line speed
|
|
Download servers
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Line speed
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
|
1Mbps
|
756Kbps
|
512Kbps
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756Kbps
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1Mbps
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Line speed
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Gaming*
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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2Mbps
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Basically, as long as you’re not torrenting at peak times, you’ll not notice any problems, and gamers will squeal with delight at the promised 2Mbps downstream all day every day, even at peak times. VPNers get the same.
It’ll cost you a rather low £12 a month, for a 8Mb unlimited service. There’s also a ‘value’ package with a 10GB usage allowance for £6 a month, and if you’re a power user, then you can get no traffic shaping at all with the Pro service for £20 a month.
The pro service is a little complicated – it will prioritise your traffic above everything else, BUT you only have a 15GB a month usage allowance, BUT you get to download as much as you like between midnight and 8am. So essentially, you schedule your big downloads for then.
A small round of applause for Plusnet please, ladies and gentlemen, for being honest and transparent about what they do with your connection. Particularly in so much detail. If only all broadband suppliers could be as open with their customers as Plusnet.
