REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post - Shaw may go ahead with usage-based Internet billing

dangonay · 04-30-2011, 05:50 AM

^ Do you know Bell only charges 12.5c per GB for their extra data plans? Using your math of 3c per GB to maintain and 8c per GB to upgrade we're at 11c per GB. Where is this huge profit margin if they're only charging 12.5c?

I always LOL at the articles whining about over usage charges of $1 to $2 per GB and somehow implying that if usage based billing goes ahead that the providers are going to charge you that same $1-$2 per GB. Complete horseshit.

Shaw has three data plans you can add on: $5 for 10GB (50c per GB). $20 for 60GB (33c per GB) and $50 for 250GB (20c per GB). The big plan is not bad charging only 20c per GB. You could buy one of Shaw's smaller high speed plans and add the big data plan and get 310-350GB for a price less than their Nitro plan (which only gives 175GB).

Bell has three plans as well. $5 for 40GB, $10 for 80GB and $15 for 120GB (all three plans are 12.5c per GB). Bell also has a cap on over usage. Once you hit $60 in over usage fees, the charge gets capped. That means 30GB over costs $30. 60GB over costs $60. But 200GB over still costs $60. So essentially Bell offers unlimited for $60 extra per month.

Another provider in ON (can't recall the name now and am too lazy to search) also has over usage charges of $1, but they cap at $30 instead of Bell's $60. So you get unlimited internet from them for only $30 extra per month.

People whining about over usage and trying to imply you'll be getting huge bills of several hundred dollars for internet access are full of shit. I also find it convenient that the media always talks about the per GB charge, but fail to mention caps which limit your over usage fees to a fixed amount.

04-30-2011, 05:50 AM	#46
dangonay Ready to be Man handled by RS! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Burnaby Posts: 1,798 Thanked 1,502 Times in 506 Posts Failed 418 Times in 151 Posts	^ Do you know Bell only charges 12.5c per GB for their extra data plans? Using your math of 3c per GB to maintain and 8c per GB to upgrade we're at 11c per GB. Where is this huge profit margin if they're only charging 12.5c? I always LOL at the articles whining about over usage charges of $1 to $2 per GB and somehow implying that if usage based billing goes ahead that the providers are going to charge you that same $1-$2 per GB. Complete horseshit. Shaw has three data plans you can add on: $5 for 10GB (50c per GB). $20 for 60GB (33c per GB) and $50 for 250GB (20c per GB). The big plan is not bad charging only 20c per GB. You could buy one of Shaw's smaller high speed plans and add the big data plan and get 310-350GB for a price less than their Nitro plan (which only gives 175GB). Bell has three plans as well. $5 for 40GB, $10 for 80GB and $15 for 120GB (all three plans are 12.5c per GB). Bell also has a cap on over usage. Once you hit $60 in over usage fees, the charge gets capped. That means 30GB over costs $30. 60GB over costs $60. But 200GB over still costs $60. So essentially Bell offers unlimited for $60 extra per month. Another provider in ON (can't recall the name now and am too lazy to search) also has over usage charges of $1, but they cap at $30 instead of Bell's $60. So you get unlimited internet from them for only $30 extra per month. People whining about over usage and trying to imply you'll be getting huge bills of several hundred dollars for internet access are full of shit. I also find it convenient that the media always talks about the per GB charge, but fail to mention caps which limit your over usage fees to a fixed amount.