Samantha Clark

Comcast puts up hurdle for downloaders
August 29, 2008

Comcast has announced that it will cap the Internet usage of its broadcast subscribers at 250GB a month.

VB sister channel Multichannel News points out that this is a large amount of data, the "equivalent of 62,500 digital songs," and Comcast reportedly said it's “much more than a typical residential customer uses on a monthly basis.” The median monthly data usage by residential customers is approximately 2GB to 3GB, Multichannel News reports.

The thing is, this move by Comcast isn't aimed at the "typical residential customer." It's aimed at those customers who are jumping on the next generation of home entertainment delivery: online downloads and streaming.

According to Multichannel News' story, "To hit the 250GB ceiling, a customer would have to do any one of the following, according to Comcast: send 50 million e-mails; download 62,500 songs or 125 standard-definition movies; or upload 25,000 hi-resolution digital photos."

But what about high-definition movies? Vudu, Microsoft's Xbox Live and PlayStation Store all offer high-def downloads.

Comcast spokesman Charles Dougles told Multichannel News that less than 1% of all Internet customers come close to using 250GB.

But that's now, when Internet video delivery is still a nascent business.

If Internet service providers are allowed to control broadband downloads in this way in the future, it could be a serious hurdle to electronic rental and sell-through. As it is, a standard-def download takes an hour and a high-def download takes two or three hours. The industry needs better technology, not walls that will stop customers from using it.

Of course, if Comcast is the only ISP that makes this move, it could just end up losing customers.

Posted by Samantha Clark on August 29, 2008 | Comments (0)