Many customers are getting frustrated at the moment with many more being mislead about the service they are being provided by ISPs. Many broadband providers are offering ‘unlimited broadband’ so users can download as much content as they wish. However this is not true in most cases. Nearly all providers who offer ‘unlimited broadband’ state in small writing that a FUP ‘Fair Usage Policy’ applies, which actually caps the amount a user can download.

According to the regulatory body Ofcom, 7 out of 10 customers on unlimited broadband believe they have no limit. These customers are currently blissfully unaware, but with increasing numbers of people starting to download movies and music, people may reach their cap.

Many providers have stated that the people who reach this limit are those using peer-to-peer software or filesharing; however most of the users who request unlimited broadband are the very same people.

Particularly with the advent of IPTV, greater amounts of users will want unlimited broadband. The problem is that ISPs cannot cope with increasing demand. As more people download, this slows traffic, and we may find soon that demand outweighs ISP’s ability to provide a reliable service.