What is a Bandwidth or Download Limit?
Our competitors have come up with some creative ways to name what is really just a usage meter. These competitors are now saying it as a reason why you should go with them instead of Sunflower. In fact, our usage meter is the very reason you should choose Sunflower Broadband. Thank you for taking the time to get the facts.
Other providers looking at how to keep costs down for average users follow Sunflower's lead.
- Policing The Bandwidth Pigs: Time Warner Cable, Comcast Test Broadband Controls. Click Here
- AT&T Mulls Surcharge for High DSL use. Click Here
How Much Bandwidth will I use?
See the chart below for some general calculations on how much of each activity you might be able to use with the bandwidth included at each level.
FACTS:
-- It is unlikely an average user would exceed the bandwidth usage included with their plan with just web site browsing and using email.
-- The majority (over 80%) of our customers will never receive an overage bill.
-- Privacy is paramount. Bandwidth usage metering is a completely anonymous method of managing a network. Our meter knows how much data is moving through. It does not know what the data or content is.
-- All of our customers can check their bandwidth usage at https://my.sunflower.com/mybroadband/.
-- We will always credit a customer back their first and second month's overage charge upon request.
-- We have raised our limits many times and will continue to. Not because of competition but because average use is increasing and our bandwidth metering is meant to help us manage high capacity users (top 10%) without impact to the majority of our customers.
What is a bandwidth usage meter?
Bandwidth usage is similar to water for the internet; it is the amount of data moving through the pipes of the internet. Your faucet to turn on and off bandwidth is a browser, email client or similar applications used to access the internet. Our average users, about 77%, use 6 gigabytes or less of bandwidth per month. Our high-end subscribers, about 2%, use 40 gigs or more.
Why does Sunflower meter bandwidth usage?
We do not meter bandwidth usage to increase profits, we do it to keep rates down for the average internet user. Our internet rates are among, if not "the", lowest in the country for the speeds we offer. Usage metering allows us to invest in a network that gives the few high-end users the consistently high performance they demand without charging the average users for their bandwidth.
What about other providers who offer Unlimited Bandwidth?
Some providers allow all users to do whatever they want until the network slows down for everyone. What good is unlimited bandwidth on a slow network? Other network providers slow down high-end users, implement hard limits , or even kick them off their network. We welcome high-end users to our high-end speed. We let them choose how much bandwidth they need and then we let all users monitor their bandwidth through My Broadband. We know our bandwidth usage meter is the best way to maximize value for all customers.
What happens if I go over the amount of bandwidth usage included?
We will always credit a customer back their first and, if needed, second occurrence of being charged for bandwidth usage. Most often, usage is exceeded because of malicious activity including viruses, Trojan programs, spyware, or a neighbor using a customer's internet though an unsecured wireless router. We will work with customers to help secure their bandwidth and credit any related overage charges in those first two months. We will work together to find out what is causing the overage and making sure you are subscriber to the level of internet that best meets your needs for the price.
What do you charge for bandwidth usage?
Each level of Sunflower Broadband Internet has a set amount of bandwidth usage included. Additional bandwidth is charged at $2.00 for each additional gigabyte or you may add bandwidth in advance for $1/Gig or it may be more economical to move to the next level of internet and also enjoy increased download speed.
Why do you charge for bandwidth usage instead of just notifying?
There are two reasons why we charge. The first is to bring it to the customer's attention so they will look for the virus, secure their unsecured wireless connection or upgrade to a faster level of internet that better fits their usage. Secondly, we charge because we have customers who pay for extra bandwidth every month because they like the speed we offer and find value and benefit from their high usage that justifies the cost of their bandwidth. These customers get what they want without Sunflower having to pass on those bandwidth costs to other users.
*Bandwidth usage based on April 2007 actual usage.