KaZaA & other P2P......Blocking up broadband and slowing you down? BT say so.

[STEVE1232003]

Hi,
I use P2P like almost everyone else i know and had no probs. but recently a friend of mine was experiencing a very slow broadband connection.

I told him he should contact his ISP which is what he did, The company involved was BT (British Telecom). When he called them they gave him all this stuff like, "You seem to use KaZaA and other P2P programs a lot don't you" he replied "Yes and?".

They told him this was the sole reason for his connection slowing down and said P2P programs clog your Broardband.....They told him they would clear his connection but not to use the software again.... My first reaction was to laugh at BT and say what liars...

Now i am thinking, I still don't think this is true but i wonder if they are bieng paid off someone to say that.

Has anyone else experienced similar problems from P2P or am i right in saying BT are Bulling?

Replies Appreciated

Steve....

[The Edge]

Well, appartanly, 30%-40% is internet traffic is P2P realated.
I doubt BT are being "paid" to say this but they have a point I guess. They cannot tell him NOT to use this software though. Your friend is entitled to his max connection throughput.

Edge

[STEVE1232003]

The thing is though they don't mean using your P2P programs while browsing will slow you down, What they claim is that using P2P causes a permanent slow connection and your internet will be slow even after the program is terminated...

You see they are claiming P2P is more like a virus, and it "permanently" clogs your connection up.

Personally i don't believe a word of it. What do you think?

Steve...

[The Edge]

Well, I know someone who works for BT tech support in that area and will ask them tomorrow but I have to say i sounds like a load of cobblers. I don't believe it either, but could be wrong

Edge

[gd_nimrod]

I think greedy ISP's are realizing that people are (rightfully) using those expensive broadband connections and putting them to good use, and they see how much (more) money they can make of it, so they introduce download caps, which are a bitch.

[STEVE1232003]

Originally posted by The Edge
Well, I know someone who works for BT tech support in that area and will ask them tomorrow

OK,
Well if it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could let me know what your "Contact" says.

My E-Mail

Just send me a mail and let me know pal.

Steve..........

[The Edge]

Heh-heh, "Contact"

He hates the job

I'll ask him and see what he has to say. I reckon he will aggree with what we have said so far.

Edge

[khp]

Originally posted by The Edge
They cannot tell him NOT to use this software though. Your friend is entitled to his max connection throughput.

This almost cirtainly incorrect. AFAIK all broardband ISP's has a clause in their subscriber contracts, stating that ISP may put a block on you connection, or terminate your subscription, if you abuse it, in any way.

Running P2P programs 24/7 easily qualifies as abuse.

STEVES friend should probably be happy, that BT only slowed down the connection, instead of simply terminating his connection.

[The Maynard]

OK so basically what they're saying is that using a p2p program will leave some residual clogging elements that will permanently slow down your throughput until they can unglog it? That's ludicrous!
That's like saying P2P software clog your broadband like chollesterol clogs your arteries and that the ISP has to clear it all out to open it back up again. That is BS and I would challenge them on that. You pay for the amount of broadband you have and you are entitled to use it. What did you buy it for to begin with?

[The Edge]

BTo gets tough with Sat bandwidth hogs

I know it mentions satellite customers but it is similar to what khp posted.

Edge

[STEVE1232003]

That was my thoughts exactly.... I think they should be sewed by sharman networks for even saying such a thing.

In my opinion they offer a connection to the internet. What you use it for should always remain your business.

After all there is no law saying they have to check what you do, if there was there would be no sick people getting kiddie porn, why don't they bother these people instead of us normal users downloading films and mp3's.

I hate BT.

me> <-BT (Wish i could)

[The Edge]

why don't they bother these people instead of us normal users downloading films and mp3's.

Yeap, but the reality is the ISPs are being harrassed by the likes of the MPAA and the RIAA. It's getting worse and worse. People in Holland have already faced fines.

Edge

[STEVE1232003]

Originally posted by The Edge
Yeap, but the reality is the ISPs are being harrassed by the likes of the MPAA and the RIAA. It's getting worse and worse. People in Holland have already faced fines.

Edge

You are right, and i understand this but it still seems unfair.

There isn't anything illegal about P2P unless you break copyrights etc....But they have to prove that. I just think they are fighting a loosing battle anyway as more and more people use more and more P2P apps everyday.

Ohh well all this moaning is really stressfull.....lol

[khp]

Originally posted by STEVE1232003
In my opinion they offer a connection to the internet. What you use it for should always remain your business.

The thing is BT has to act in the best interest of their entire user base. Letting 10% or so, use up 90% of their bandwidth, is not in the best interest of the other 90% of the users.

Originally posted by STEVE1232003

After all there is no law saying they have to check what you do, if there was there would be no sick people getting kiddie porn, why don't they bother these people instead of us normal users downloading films and mp3's.

The thing is, when you use your connection so heavily that it might affect other users, there is no way BT can claim that they didn't know what you doing. Which make them liable for any futher illegal activities on your line.

[chickeneater]

one way to actually compare bandwidth p2p, or not p2p is going to www.bandwidthplace.com while p2p is running and do the speed test. Then completely turn off p2p and go to bandwidthplace and the speed test. What were your results?