Download limits, unlimited downloads & fair use policies
Some broadband packages have a set download limit while others are advertised as "unlimited downloads", but what does a download limit actually mean, and what will contribute to your usage? Read on to find out...
What is a download limit?
If you have a broadband package it may well have a download limit or cap which will determine in GB how much data you can download (and upload) each month.
You use some of your download allowance just by viewing web pages and sending emails, but you use a lot more by downloading large files like music or TV programmes. As a rough guide:
- downloading one music track uses 4MB
- downloading a film uses 225MB
- watching TV online (e.g. BBC iPlayer) for 30 mins uses 110MB.
(1GB is equal to 1024MB.)
Why does my download limit matter?
Fixed line broadband packages are often advertised as coming with 'unlimited downloads' or have a download limit of 2, 5, 8, 10 or 40GBb per month. Mobile broadband dongles usually have smaller caps of about 1 or 3GB a month. If you go over your download limit you'll be charged for each extra GB you use, or your provider could limit, suspend or even terminate your broadband service.
In theory "unlimited broadband" should mean you can download as much as you want, however in many cases, broadband contracts will include small print about a "fair usage policy", which means that the company has the right to limit your broadband service if your usage is 'excessive'. However, very few companies clearly define what they mean by the term 'excessive', so it's tough to know what constitutes too much.
At present Sky broadband offers the only completely unlimited download service in the UK.
How can I pick the right download limit for me?
If you are looking for a new broadband deal, try to have an idea of how much you download each month and bear this in mind when comparing deals. When you compare broadband packages with uSwitch, you can filter your results by download limit, making it easy to find deal that's right for you.
If you are a very heavy broadband user or download lots of files, look for a broadband package with a 40GB download limit, which should be sufficient for most users or an unlimited broadband package - but make sure you are aware of any fair usage policies and the penalties for excessive use. Alternatively, you could opt for Sky broadband, which has truly unlimited downloads.
Compare broadband deals with uSwitch now.