Telkom is warning subscribers that using \u201cexcessive concurrent internet sessions or bandwidth-intensive protocols\u201d may result in throttling and bandwidth shaping.<\/p>\n
In an email to its clients, Telkom included a section called \u201cUncapped products: customer behaviour and corrective actions\u201d.<\/p>\n
Here Telkom explained that while its uncapped products do not have a specific data usage caps, it can apply restrictions to an uncapped account.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis may be done when a customer’s pattern of usage compromises network performance, or causes network congestion in a way that affects the experience of other customers negatively,\u201d Telkom said.<\/p>\n
Examples of such usage patterns include excessive concurrent internet sessions or using bandwidth-intensive protocols.<\/p>\n
Telkom highlighted that streaming video and online gaming are examples of usage patterns which may cause problems.<\/p>\n
Telkom warned that, in such cases, it may \u201cconstrain a customer\u2019s throughput speed\u201d and \u201cshape a customer\u2019s bandwidth to limit the use of bandwidth-intensive protocols and applications\u201d.<\/p>\n
Telkom said that its Tracker Tool was designed to help users monitor their usage. \u201cThis Tool allows you to determine when your usage approaches levels that will require restrictions to be applied,\u201d said Telkom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen such a level is reached, Telkom may take action within 24 hours by restricting your usage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Telkom explained that a user\u2019s full service would be restored at the beginning of the next calendar month.<\/p>\n
However, Telkom warned that if a customer’s usage pattern continuously affects the performance of the network, and impacts on other users’ experience, it may decide to terminate such a customer’s uncapped account.<\/p>\n
Many Telkom Internet subscribers wanted to know what these data limits were, and what they should watch out for to avoid being throttled or shaped.<\/p>\n
Telkom explained that on uncapped ADSL it is not only about the amount of data an individual uses, but also the concurrency of usage, especially in peak periods, that contributes to congestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cTelkom Internet needs to protect our network from congestion that affects other users on the same profile,\u201d Telkom said.<\/p>\n
The company said that Telkom Internet is the only ISP that differentiates its SoftCap traffic from uncapped, and also separates business and residential users based on their usage profiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cMultiple concurrent download sessions such as bit torrents are the type of usage that we want to discourage,\u201d said Telkom.<\/p>\n
\u201cUncapped users are monitored and those that are deemed to have high concurrent usage behaviour could be managed through throttling and shaping.\u201d<\/p>\n
Telkom said that if users managed their usage by scheduling downloads in non-peak periods \u2013 from 00h00 to 06h00 – it would alleviate\u00a0concurrency in peak periods.<\/p>\n
Despite the Telkom email, a spokesperson for the company dismissed the concerns raised about online gaming and video streaming.<\/p>\n
\u201cReal time applications such as gaming and video streaming will only create issues in extreme usage situations, for instance where you have a number of users in the same household playing games and streaming video at the same time,\u201d Telkom said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAverage users who play games and watch streaming video will not get throttled or shaped and we, as a matter of fact, want to encourage users to use these applications.\u201d<\/p>\n