Braodband usage - Anyone know how much they use?

[LIG]

I just had a statement from Virgin - OMG!!

Over the past year we've used 1020 GB. Yes that gigabytes!


Just wanted to know if that's "normal" use for a family.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Are you streaming a lot of tv programs, films etc? That is more than plain old browsing!

I hope you are on an unlimited package.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

id say it is pretty normal

thats 85Gb a month

you say your a family so assuming 2 kids streaming stuff, iplayer shows etc etc

so much more is online now usage is on the up

my phone is 50gb a month (dont need it.. just the deal they threw me) id say i use 5gb a month.. not including what I use on my wifi at home

watchin games on sky go etc .. bit of golf watching

 

[LIG]

Are you streaming a lot of tv programs, films etc? That is more than plain old browsing!

I hope you are on an unlimited package.

Lots of streaming and somebody is home all day so that probably bumps it up a bit as well. All of Virgin packages are unlimited AFAIK.
Thing is, I also have an unlimited data contract for my phone, which includes tethering, and that gets used sometimes as well - whenever the Virgin service drops out; which is a coule of times a year and for a day or so each time.

Looking at what new contracts are available and this Virgin one still seems the best for us. Would be interested to hear from anyone on a Sky contract who has similar usage to us and how much it costs.

 

[LIG]

id say it is pretty normal

thats 85Gb a month

you say your a family so assuming 2 kids streaming stuff, iplayer shows etc etc

so much more is online now usage is on the up

my phone is 50gb a month (dont need it.. just the deal they threw me) id say i use 5gb a month.. not including what I use on my wifi at home

watchin games on sky go etc .. bit of golf watching

So you're on SKY? What package/cost may I ask?

 

[Deleted member 21784]

So you're on SKY? What package/cost may I ask?

im with BT, I have sky go from my dad

last time I looked at it they always seemed to be same price unless you got a deal

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm guessing your Virgin connection is via high speed cable? Can you get that same service from another provider or is the infrastructure for Virgin alone? If it is only for Virgin then you are likely best sticking with them as the speeds you get will be way better than going back to old school copper cable. I'm on Sky high speed broadband, laughably called but unlimited so that is okay, but becaused the fibre cable stops at the green box 1/3 of a mile away my speed is around 12mbps. If you are watching that much tv through the internet you do not want to be going down that road. You need a turbo charged service.

In answer to one of your questions, our broadband is bundled up with everything else from Sky so it is hard to break it down. The price we pay is cheaper because we also take other things. If you want broadband alone you would pay something different, although knowing Sky as a new customer you may get it for less still . You would have to speak to someone at Sky I suspect to get an accurate idea of the cost.

 

[Dibby]

I'd say that's on the low end of average.

I used 834GB last month, and am at 580GB this month. I work from home so that would make it slightly higher, but everything else is typical family usage, streaming on 2 devices at evenings\weekends, general browsing, streaming music subscription, emails, device updates etc.. People who game a lot and download movies and games would be much higher.

 

[GreiginFife]

Our usage averages at 480Gb\mnth.
Son streams lots and games online and we download a lot of content on Sky and stream UHD on Netflix.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Haven't got a scooby. Although I am only on 4 meg at best as I am a bit out in the sticks so doubt I use that much as streaming is mostly out of the question. But apparently there is a fibre to the property line that is ready to go, so once BT connect that up I'll apparently have 300. I won't know what to do with it all...

 

[LIG]

I'd say that's on the low end of average.

I used 834GB last month, and am at 580GB this month. I work from home so that would make it slightly higher, but everything else is typical family usage, streaming on 2 devices at evenings\weekends, general browsing, streaming music subscription, emails, device updates etc.. People who game a lot and download movies and games would be much higher.

800gig a month!!! Wow!!! And HOW??? Is everything streamed or UHD?

I'm not sure I'll be believed when I tell 'em ours is "Low end of average!"

 

[LIG]

Our usage averages at 480Gb\mnth.
Son streams lots and games online and we download a lot of content on Sky and stream UHD on Netflix.

Hmm?!! Gaming, Steaming music and box sets & movies in UHD - those seem to be the main culprits!
Not sure its possible to change the habits of any young adult who's grown up with unlimited data usage so won't even go there!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Hmm?!! Gaming, Steaming music and box sets & movies in UHD - those seem to be the main culprits!
Not sure its possible to change the habits of any young adult who's grown up with unlimited data usage so won't even go there!

Guaranteed a total meltdown if you even attempt it . It is the modern way.

I did a number of university open days with my son last year. One of the things they all made a big issue of was the broadband speeds in halls of residence and on campus. They know that it is important to young adults now. As one speaker said with a smile, 'it is right at the top of the human rights charter for students now'

 

[Hacker Khan]

Guaranteed a total meltdown if you even attempt it . It is the modern way.

I did a number of university open days with my son last year. One of the things they all made a big issue of was the broadband speeds in halls of residence and on campus. They know that it is important to young adults now. As one speaker said with a smile, 'it is right at the top of the human rights charter for students now'

Whilst I'd not quite say it is a human right, I'd argue access to decent broadband is becoming more essential to engage in modern society. I'm sure the government has made a promise that every property will have at least something like 10 meg in a couple of years.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Thought I'd have a look out of curiosity - account just says "you're on unlimited, no need to worry about how much you use". BT Infinity Unlimited. never had any issues

 

[Dibby]

800gig a month!!! Wow!!! And HOW??? Is everything streamed or UHD?

I'm not sure I'll be believed when I tell 'em ours is "Low end of average!"

I don't think my usage is particularly high. I don't play or download online games, streaming is just youtube, Netflix and Now TV for sports. It's HD streams, but just 1080 not 4k UHD or anything like that. Rest of usage is streaming music services in high quality, VOIP and video calls, and browsing, primarily youtube, and forums like this.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Whilst I'd not quite say it is a human right, I'd argue access to decent broadband is becoming more essential to engage in modern society. I'm sure the government has made a promise that every property will have at least something like 10 meg in a couple of years.

So many parts of our life are now geared to online that I think you are correct. I should emphasise the speaker I quoted did so with a glint in his eye. He was getting the point across to the students whilst raising a chortle from the parents. The reality is, my son is now at university and does most of his work on a chromebook via The Cloud (or whatever it is), watches tv via streaming, watches youtube, streams music, connects to friends via Whatsapp etc. It is central to his academic and social life.

Even at home, we do online banking, energy account is done online, we book holidays online, printing out the documents including flight bording passes. This is irrespective of the tv streaming, shopping and browsing which is more superficial.

So, yes you are very right in your statement.