Globe’s 15GB Bandwidth Cap in Fine Print

Last May, Globe Telecom sent us a formal statement regarding the peer-2-peer bandwidth capping on their network — claiming they’re not doing any bandwidth capping. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have such provisions in the subscriber contracts, a copy of which is posted below:

A friend who just switch from PLDT myDSL to Globe Broadband showed me a copy of his Service Order Agreement.
globe dsl contract

Item #5 of the agreement specifies bandwidth allowances for various service plans, including a 20% cap of maximum subscribed speed (i.e, if you are on Plan 1Mbps, P2P download is capped at 200Kbps).

p2p on globe

Likewise, there’s provision for monthly total volume of downloads depending on subscribed packages:

Plan 384Kbps : 15GB per month
Plan 512Kbps : 20GB per month
Plan 1.0Mbps : 25GB per month
Plan 1.5Mbps : 30GB per month
Plan 2.0Mbps : 35GB per month

Even if you’re not into torrent downloads, the 0.5GB allowance for the lowest plan can be easily used up just by watching YouTube videos. I guess Globe also needs to provide its subscribers some sort of a bandwidth meter so they can check their running allowance.

Anyone out there experienced being disconnected (or capped)  for using up their monthly allocation?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,005 other subscribers
Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

91 Responses

  1. Avatar for Patrick Patrick says:

    This is worrying news. (although I’m not on Globe broadband) I hope other ISPs won’t follow suit. Regardless, if you’re not yet using bandwidth monitoring software I suggest you use one now. I’ve been using Bitmeter for the past year and it’s good because it’s free and has all the basic reports I need.

  2. Avatar for drew drew says:

    nge.. ang alam ko reserve bandwidth yang 20% kaya hindi actual speed ang nakukuha mo..

    hindi pla unlimited ung usage..

  3. Avatar for BrianB BrianB says:

    this isn’t too bad. Even divx movies only cost me about 150mb each. I’d need to download 6 a day to get close to my cap. If this is what it takes to improve connection, I’m OK with it. So far, connection is not that good especially during working hours. Latency problems all morning and afternoon.

    “Even though the demand of Globe’s Subscribers is 30Mbps their facilities has for example 15Mbps to provide their subscribers. Subscribers share connections so if all of the subscribers are online there is congestion.”

    If this is true, they’re cheating us.

  4. Avatar for Vidar Vidar says:

    Actually, even before Globe sent you a formal statement regarding the peer-2-peer bandwidth capping on their network last May, the P2P restriction is already in the contract of the new subscribers. Someone posted a copy of the same contract in TipidPC during that time. I guess that May incident is their test phase for the capping. My plan 995 768kbps’s average DL speed is 80kbps, it dropped to 16kbps during that time. I do not believe the statement they released after the incident because everyone’s download speed was actually capped to 20%. Coincidence? I doubt.

    @Ferland
    Same here.

    BTW, anyone experiencing this; whenever I put a hyperlink in YM with “http://”, others only see the link as an IP address.

  5. Avatar for Ferland Ferland says:

    I totally agree with Miharu. I’ve tried PLDT/Smart/Bayantel/Globe and so far Globe Broadband sucks the least. The only problem I’ve experienced with Globe are dropped calls while talking to a customer service agent.

    Oh another issue is with their DHCP servers/routers which makes it difficult to send files over Yahoo messenger (anyone notice this?)

  6. Avatar for Gerardz Gerardz says:

    Well at least here in SG. Singtel is the best in internet connection and there is no limit for home broadband. While mobile broadband got 50GB limit per month and others like starhub and m1 has no limitations at all and all of them is quite good.

  7. Avatar for Nhoel Nhoel says:

    MY FRIEND’S GLOBE LINES IS SO GOOD HERE AT OLONGAPO, HE’S ALSO AN IT PERSON LIKE ME AND HE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAIN ON HIS LINED INTERNET CONNECTION.

    just giving the other side of the story.

    thanks,
    -Nhoel of http://kewordspeak.com

  8. Avatar for Miharu Miharu says:

    I prefer globe more than PLDT and Bayantel. Why?

    PLDT/Smart: Uhm everything sucks

    Bayantel: Cust Serv is great but service: NEVER. Imagine, everyday. INTERNET SUCKS.

    Globe: Better.

  9. Avatar for sylv3rblade sylv3rblade says:

    No capping here so nothing to report.

    Im’a watch this post with popcorn for people start bashing people for their choice of ISP and their decision to stick to it (apparently it’s started)… Flame on!

  10. Avatar for excalibur85 excalibur85 says:

    Been on Globe Broadband for a little under a year now and I haven’t experienced any speed capping even though I’m a heavy torrent user.

    I easily burn through that 25 GB cap on my 1Mbps and so far nothing’s happened to my download speed.

    I do hope it stays that way.

  11. Avatar for petken petken says:

    @watt I think you’ll experience capping anytime soon. Good Luck to all their subscribers.

    I think it is very stupid that an ISP caps the speed. Each subscriber is paying for the speed and unlimited service. They should not blame the subscribers for the congestion. It is their responsibilty to provide the right speed for EACH and EVERY USER. It SHOULD NOT be SHARED by the entire COMMUNITY.

    Example:
    Globe Broadband Subscribers
    1Mbps X 10 subscribers = 10Mbps
    2Mbps X 10 Subscribers = 20Mbps
    TOTAL = 30Mbps

    What is current set-up of ISPs?
    Even though the demand of Globe’s Subscribers is 30Mbps their facilities has for example 15Mbps to provide their subscribers. Subscribers share connections so if all of the subscribers are online there is congestion.

    What is the solution?
    It’s definitely NOT CAPPING.
    Based on my example Globe should have facilities that could support the 30Mbps demand of their subscribers. If they cannot do that, they are NOT WORTHY of your subscription and payment.

    ***This is only my opinion and the examples are just for describing the current set-up of the ISPs.

  12. Avatar for Tommy Tommy says:

    ALL ISPs in the Philippines suck. Even USA and UK are complaining non-stop about their ISPs too.

    Globe’s performed well for me and though I have some issues with the service, it’s nowhere near the anger I’ve had with PLDT’s customer service that lie about network status and keep insisting that the problem is with my setup.

    For now the idea is to subscribe to the ISP that has the “suck” that you can live with. For me it’s Globe.

    I don’t really know what to feel about the bandwidth capping issue but that’s been going on around the world also due to the massive amounts being transferred by P2P networks thus overloading servers. On the one side most plans here are advertised as unlimited, on the other hand I don’t know the actual costs involved but if ISPs did truly unlimited services here (i.e. everyone maxes out bandwidth 24/7) I think they’re going to be charging much much more than they are now.

    Furthermore I’d think 90% of the P2P traffic is in pirated material, so that kind of complicates matters.

  13. Avatar for wattt wattt says:

    been using globe DLing 24/7 no cap experienced just recently downloaded more than 30gigs on 1.5mbps

  14. Avatar for Tech Blog Tech Blog says:

    I think capping in anyway way is wrong specially if your advertising your service as UNLIMITED, if globe is going to justify this by saying to prevent “ABUSE” of their network due to downloading P2P or seeding a torrent file then they should say they are providing a Limited Internet Service.

    I’m no lawyer and I’m not sure if there is such laws here, but I think this could be considered as false advertisement.

  15. Avatar for LOLWUT LOLWUT says:

    Bandwidth capping in this day and age for wired broadband?

    A resounding F.U. to the Globe execs who thought this was a good idea.

  16. Avatar for taddah taddah says:

    globe sucks!

    period!!!!!!!!

  17. Avatar for Charles Charles says:

    Oh hai Paul, for a moment it sounded as if you’re suggesting that i am stupid, thank you soo much for those kind words. It made me feel super.

    I was just trying to point out that if you are just a regular internet user doing email, chat, video-calling and downloading albums OR watching Youtube all day, by average there’s no way 15GB/month can be used up at it’s specific plan rate. Unless it’s used for other means i.e. torrent seeding etc..I think that’s what they are trying to prevent.

  18. Avatar for Paul Paul says:

    That’s not the point Charles. I think you miss-read the article.

    This is not about “plug-in” broadband. This is about Globe DSL. And its not “acceptable” in any way or form even if it was just about your plug-in broadband.

    If you are ok with paying for crap, I am sorry, but that is your stupidity. I, for one, am not. If I ever found my broadband provider capping me, I would switch and keep switching. There is always an alternative in satellite out of other countries if somehow all the local companies started colluding.

  19. Avatar for Charles Charles says:

    I own the top 3 most popular plug-it broadbands, and i must say, the 15GB/month or 500MB/day download limits are acceptable, given that I don’t use torrents and Globe Tattoo is incredibly slow.

    Meaning you can’t really use up all 500MB in a day because it’s impossible for a regular Tattoo user, unless some nasty tweaking was done to your plug-it, just disregard my justification. ;)

  20. Avatar for John Alvero John Alvero says:

    A friendly advise, STAY AWAY FROM GLOBE BROADBAND. Customer service sucks here in metro manila. Last mile penetration sucks. Service delivery sucks. Billing sucks (imagine being sent with more or less 200 pages of billing, in a brown envelope).

    It’s a lesson hard earned. So spare yourself. Save yourself from a lot of headache.

Leave a Reply
JOIN OUR TELEGRAM DISCUSSION

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *