Canadian ISPs Charge DSL Subscribers for Over-Consumption

  

Usage based billing was recently a hot topic in the wireless space (for example - it makes AT&T happy - here), and for a blink of a second in the US cable market.

Now, after the Canadian regulator approval (see "CRTC [Canada] Approves Usage Based Billing to Bell Canada" - here) we can see it being implemented by retail ISPs on the DSL service as well.

Bell Internet explains (here - Bell's "Tracker" utility pictured) that "If you exceed your usage allowance, the excess usage will be charged at the rate specified in your Bell Internet plan. There is a maximum usage overage charge of $60/month for usage up to 300 GB. In addition, an extreme usage charge of $1.00/GB applies for usage exceeding 300 GB per month .. Although the extreme usage charge will be introduced to all customers, 99% of customers do not exceed the extreme threshold of 300 GB per month. In fact, less than 2% of customers exceed 100 GB per month and an average customer uses approximately 11.5 GB per month".

Primus Canada introduced the following policy (here - unlike what the video below says) - "Commencing February 2011, your existing High Speed Internet plan will now have 25GB (gigabytes) of monthly usage included. Additional usage up to 300GB will be charged at $2.00/GB to a maximum of $60.00/month. Usage in excess of 300GB per month will be charged an additional $1.10/GB".

Shaw - see video below