NTL Implements Traffic Shaping

ViSCeRaL

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/248 ... rk-traffic

Quote:

There have been rumours circulating for the last few days on Cable Forum regarding Traffic Shaping being implemented on ntl?s broadband services, and numerous customers have been reporting slow connections without any prior explanation or reason.

As with the implementation of broadband download caps back in February 2003, ntl have quietly slipped the relevant Traffic Shaping clause into their User Policy (section 20). In February 2003, ntl:home MD at the time, Aizad Hussain, admitted that the cap was ?poorly communicated,? and unfortunately it would appear that lessons were not learnt from this exercise. You can read the relevant section from the User Policy below, which Cable Forum member Toto spotted:

Quote:

In addition, we reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to manage all traffic and traffic types on our data network to ensure a consistent and optimal service for all our Broadband customers. At peak times (normally 6pm to 11pm), we may therefore limit the bandwidth available to less time-sensitive traffic types, in particular peer to peer traffic, or in extreme circumstances, where network congestion leads to potential denial of service for some customers, to reduce bandwidth allocations at an individual or a network level, in order to maintain a consistent quality of service for all customers. These restrictions do not apply outside of peak hours.

Although http://www.adslguide.org.uk reports:

Quote:

Update 3rd April 2006: ntl has now removed the traffic shaping clause from the terms and conditions. For more on this latest change see CableForum.co.uk once more. The clause is described as a work in progress, that should not have appeared on the ntl website. The Cable Forum team are passing on the news also that ntl has stressed that currently no traffic shaping is in force.

Good job there are encrypted protocol eMule clients available.

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:48 pm **Post subject:**

You know every so often i'll forget, and wish I could get cable in my area. Then just after this, I'm reminded why I wouldn't touch cable with a ten foot barge poll with stuff like this :wink:

You too can now have a crap version of sky and traffic shaped connections. :lol:

Quote:

Good job there are encrypted protocol eMule clients available.

Only works if everybody uses them, and official devs keep poo-pooing this notion.

ViSCeRaL · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:54 pm **Post subject:**

spudthedestroyer wrote:

Quote:

Good job there are encrypted protocol eMule clients available.

Only works if everybody uses them, and official devs keep poo-pooing this notion.

Mmm, didn't realise that. I guess there may be one day when encryption is a standard feature of the client..... maybe when the developers get their heads out of their arses. :lol:

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:57 pm **Post subject:**

well think of it this way, what's the point in encrypting if the other guy isn't decrypting? Or how do you expect to receive encrypted packets when the sender isn't encrypting?

Both the receiver and the sender need to be encrypting/decrypting.

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:24 pm **Post subject:**

They're not traffic shaping at the moment anyway, it's irrelevant

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:07 pm **Post subject:**

erm yes they are:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/248 ... rk-traffic

Quote:

Traffic Shaping being implemented on ntl?s broadband services, and numerous customers have been reporting slow connections without any prior explanation or reason.

Heavy users are being shaped, now according to all those links. Ask one of the people who think they are being shaped if ntl are shaping traffic :lol:

I assume they are doing what they did with capping and just targeting the top end to start off with .

Did you guys see the newsnight report on traffic shaping btw? I missed it myself, wish i hadn't...

ViSCeRaL · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:17 pm **Post subject:**

This is from the forum thread on the issue:

Quote:

All,

Update:-

ntl have stressed for the moment that there is no changes and Traffic shaping is not in force. This morning I had contacted ntl regarding what had been put into the User policy recently regarding Traffic shaping. ntl have now removed the paragraph detailing the specifics of 'Traffic Shaping' and have issued the following statement to Cable Forum:-

Chad Raube, director of internet for ntl Telewest wrote:

"A revised paragraph appeared in ntl's user policy over the weekend, which has now been removed. The clause related to how we manage network traffic to ensure an optimal service for all ntl broadband customers.

"While we continually review ways to offer the best quality service and are currently considering updates to our user policy, the paragraph removed was work in progress that shouldn't have appeared on the website.

"I would like to apologise for any confusion this miscommunication may have caused and we will aim to keep customers informed of any significant changes to the user policy in the future."

So, while they might not be shaping now, they certainly look to have the ability to do so in the future if they want to.

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:26 pm **Post subject:**

lol, yeah but I trust the users that say they are being shaped rather than a corporation saying they aren't shaping yet to aovid people ditching them to be honest.
Exactly the same happened to freedom2suck and all the other traffic shapers, they kept lying until they got caught.

Remember when BT was about to appear on watchdog and then they suddenly stopped port throttling? :roll:

*sigh* network infrastructure in this country sucks, I still blame BT raping the network for decades as the sole cause.

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:27 pm **Post subject:**

Spud, the article you're quoting is older than the "we're not shaping" quote in Visceral's post.

They are not AFAIK shaping ATM, they WILL I'm sure, as will every other ISP. NTL are / were / will shape between 6pm and 12am, which IMHO is a fair compromise, it means the peak times are uncongested for the evening browsers whilst not impinging too heavily on the downloaders.

It's only a matter of time before they all do it anyway, a lot of ADSL ISPs are already (most?) and the other will follow suite, as is always the case with ISPs

part of the problem with NTL is that a small (but vocal) group who use them blame every tin little problem on NTL and always assume they're lying, I've seen no evidence that they are traffic shaping YET

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:59 pm **Post subject:**

but the point is, or what i was hinting at is there's a large probablility that that is a lie by the director of internet of ntl in Viscerals post, and is contrary to a shit load of reports now. He's completely untrustworthy imo and has a vested interest in protecting "his" internet. :lol:

Quote:

a lot of ADSL ISPs are already (most?)

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/isps/summarylist.asp
All the "we are advertising in pc world" type companies do, but the higher teir products aren't yet but they tend to cost.

I was worried Zen were going to, but they aren't. Bulldog don't but they probably don't know how.

Sucks that they are rolling this out, sucks even more that the companies are lying about doing it.

maxpayne2409 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:10 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

part of the problem with NTL is that a small (but vocal) group who use them blame every tin little problem on NTL and always assume they're lying, I've seen no evidence that they are traffic shaping YET

i've never seen any proof that ntl ever tell the truth either :lol:

i guess ocassionally it happens, i notice how they never made a big advertisement about removing the dl usage cap for 1 and 2 meg service

NTL Website wrote:

Our 1Mb and 2Mb Broadband services offer unlimited usage. This means you can surf the internet for as long as you like and download music or video files as much as you want without worrying about going over your monthly allowance giving you total peace of mind.

so seems they are claiming that everyone on the lower end service can do what they want, as i've not recieved a letter ever saying i have gone over my limit perhaps this si the first example of ntl telling the truth, but teh fact the cap removal was unpublicised by ntl probably means they jsut hoped no1 would notice so they stuck to caps and so 10meg users wouldnt whinge about unfair treatment, and i can easily see why, but tehn again the 10meg service is dirt cheap so to much shouldnt be expected for something only a few measly pounds more then the 2meg service

johnathome · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:13 pm **Post subject:**

Totally off topic!

Max, did you see Bullseye is coming back?

Can't remember who the new host is now :roll:

maxpayne2409 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:14 pm **Post subject:**

yes i did, its only on challenge tv though from what i hear, and i dont get challenge tv (gayness) its presented by dave spikey who plays jerry "the saint" st.clair in phoenix nights

i suppose that means i better change my sig doesnt it

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:16 pm **Post subject:**

Hopefully its hosted by a suicide bomber, that way the show won't last long. :lol:

maxpayne2409 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:17 pm **Post subject:**

no spud you dont host it.....

seriously thought at least its not ant & dec

johnathome · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:18 pm **Post subject:**

spud wrote:

Hopefully its hosted by a suicide bomber, that way the show won't last long.

Super, Smashing, Great!

You live in Birmingham you say? Never mind, you've won a speedboat!

maxpayne2409 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm **Post subject:**

which would of course be sold to provide greasy fish & chip dinners and velour tracksuits for the whole chavvy family

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:26 am **Post subject:**

Chavs are just uneducated ppl that wanna be posh, just check out the Burberry the divs all wear.

Bullseye is gonna be sweet tho, and I gotta brother inlaw that is a dead ringer for Jim Bowen.

maxpayne2409 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:15 am **Post subject:**

chavs are scum of the earth

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:04 pm **Post subject:**

LOL they are just wannabe old school hardcore like us.

NTL Implements Traffic Shaping

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