The time of unlimited broadbad is over. Initially when the broadband connections where launched their was a speed (128 Kbps/256 Kbps/512 kbps) but no FUP limits. While these speed were defintely not broadband, content was also no HD and so it was acceptable. Today most content is 1080P HD or even 3D (2K/4K in future). Access speed have gone up to 8-25 Mbps in many cases. But the dreaded FUP limits have come up based on how much you pay and after this limit is reached the speed falls to 512 Kbps usually which isn't broadband in today's times by any stretch of imagination. This is how most ISPs operate. In my opinion, these are the deciding factors for selecting an unlimited plan
(1) Speed - The higher pre FUP limit and the higher after FUP limit, the better. This has to be measured on site not on what the manual promises as sometimes the operator promises high *upto* speeds, but with increasing subscribers and less infrastructure, he can't honor his promise.
(2) FUP limit - The higher the better
(3) Reliability - Extremely important. If a network is not available most of the time, then you can't use your high FUP limit or fast speed. The equipment used should be good and the network mangement better so that downtime is minimized. Airtel fares the best in the reliability factor in my home location. But I am willing to trade in a little bit of downtime in favour of extra FUP and speed at a given cost. But only a little ...
(4) Cost - It should fit your budget or you should be willing to pay what operators ask for what you desire. if all other factors are similar or acceptable, cost should be the deciding factor.
(5) Coverage - Fixed broadband has severe coverge limitations based on where the operator is able to spread his network. All the above is no good, if it can't reach you at you location. This is a constraint but keeps changing every 3-6 months as networks and players expand.
To decide on (1) and (2), you need to consider what is your use case. For small bandwidth hog applications like web-browsing, Mails, Social Networking, VoIP, Instant Messaging, PC/Laptop/tablet/Mobile app updates or downloads, the speed does not matter so much beyond a threshold limit. Maybe 512 Kbps (or post FUP limit) is acceptable. But cases like streaming video (Youtube, Netflix, BigFlix, Eros, etc for SD content), you may need 1 Mbps speed. You may needs 2 Mbps miniumum for 720 p streaming and 4-8 Mbps for 1080p HD. For downloading movies (big files) their is no mimimum speed. The higher the better as you download is likely to complete faster (you do not want to wait for an eternity for it to complete and then watch it. rather you could just rent a DVD or Blueray which will be delivered to you in a day). FUP will limit how much of this SD/HD video content you can watch but may have no perceivable impact on on the small bandwidth hog applications.
And I feel day by day their is no incentive in customer loyalty. The ISP who gives the most acceptable package of (1)-(4) is the one who should get my business. I have been a loyal customer of airtel broadband for 10 years, but right now I feel they are gettiing expensive for what they offer and I am tempted to look at other providers who could give me a better speed and higher FUP with little downtime [Airtel is 0 downtime, but I think I can barter the first two factors with a little downtime. I am an Internet leech ;-))].
No FUP anyone ???
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