British ISPs could start charging customers depending on which device or which type of data they're using, according to a networks expert.

The warning comes as UK ISPs are set to meet with politicians and regulators today to discuss net neutrality and traffic management issues, after agreeing to publish a voluntary code of conduct.

However, experts have warned fixed-line ISPs could soon introduce variable charging, such as the way mobile operators changed their pricing models after the introduction of the traffic-hungry iPad.

“The iPad created a very interesting situation for the operators, where the devices themselves generated additional loads for the networks,” said Owen Cole, technical director at F5 Networks. “The operators said 'If we have devices that are generating work for us, this gives us the ability to introduce a different billing model'".

“The operators launched special billing packages for it, which is in direct contravention to net neutrality,” said Owen. “If things are left to just be driven by market economics, we could end up with people paying for the amount of data that they consume to every device and that would not be a fair way to approach the market.”

Variable rate billing

F5, which makes equipment that can control traffic on networks, said that ISPs might also choose to charge differently for data, depending on how time-critical the bits were.

Owen foresees a billing system that charges less for non-urgent data, with an email costing less per bit than either Skype or video packets that need immediate delivery.

“Potentially you would get a bill at the end of every month for the amount and type of data that you consumed,” he said. “If there was no control at all, you might be charged as with electricity, where you are billed at different tariffs.

“If you're using time-sensitive traffic, you might be charged a premium for that and unless somebody has some level of control over his it could get out of hand.”

Independent body

Cole claims an independent net neutrality regulator may be necessary. “The systems are clogging up and unless someone does something you'll get to a point where market economics is going to drive how data is consumed – so the people who pay the most will have access to the data,” said Cole.

“I would not be surprised if in the long term, a UK body – in the same way as we have Nominet to administrate web domain names – is appointed to oversee speeds and prioritisation.

"A neutral eye and a neutral hand on net neutrality could go a long way to support the future and development of how information moves across the internet.”

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/3 ... per-device

I'm sure the silly fcuks have considered it, but I doubt even they'd be stupid enough - take a look at the VM thread...

Sorry, but you should pay for how much data you use, not what device you use it on.
I like having a fixed internet bill every month and I never go over my allowance. If they started charging for high priority data, then I expect I'd reduce my usage rather than pay them to use it. If they included it in a special package, I'd go for that.

That man, he talk the sense.

People want a fixed price service. If they started charge this that and the other in such a way that users could end up paying significantly more then internet usage will fall. If they start trying to treat us like sheep wanting to be fleeced they will find their user satisfaction ratings falling. It was Virgins switch to throttling and fair usage caps that drove me away. Charging by device and I would change ISP.

If they charge by data, the public uptake on popup/advert blockers will be huge, net advertising revenue will fall and free (ad supported) sites will eventually vanish.

I'm only paying £10 a month to O2 and I'm iPlayering and gaming most nights in between web bouts, so... Oh yeah, dad and sister are often on at the same time without any problems

Since when have ISP's really been that bothered about user satisfaction? As long as people pay they dont give a damn.


Considering your usage is way beyond the average user, throttling is only "fair". I usually find its the speed of the website that does the throttling not the ISP

No but they should be, unsatisfied customers leave.


Actually I might be a heavy user but at peak hours I shut things down and did other things. I moved my backups outside these hours. In fact I was probably a better judge of their peak hours than they were. I noticed a longer peak at the weekend, and stayed off outside the official peak hours because I knew that there were many still online.

I pay a premium for a full speed service, no throttleing, with a data cap I picked and can change when I want. OK still got contention with others in the area, but I want it when I want it, fast as possible.

You get what you pay for.

Exactly some very light users should be able to get it for a pittance, depending on the caps they accept. My parents got theirs for free, but they only use it to surf and the odd email.

This is silly. It's like charging each person in your house for how much water they use and which type of activity they use it for eg drinking, washing up, showering etc. Abso-frikking-lutely crazy.

I too would switch ISP. I like to game on my PS3. I would need to run updates on one desktop and two laptops. Two smartphones also connect to the router. I should be able to access the net from any device within my home.

Not really. It's more like charging people for using their phone, and charging them different rates for different destinations.

They do for this, sewage rates and water rates are calculated separately (or at least they are for properties on fixed bills)

SCAM

That is probably a fair representation of it.