PHL mobile Internet users abuzz over telco's data cap policy

Tech bloggers and Globe data plan users alike were abuzz when the telecommuncations giant sent text messages to some postpaid subscribers reminding them of their daily data usage limit of 1GB.

 

Globe sent messages to heavy data users, who make up 3 percent of their total customers, reminding them of their daily usage limit.  Those whose data usage exceeded the 1GB threshold had their browsing slowed down to 2G from 3G speeds.

 

This, Globe said, was in accordance with their Fair Use Policy (FUP). “This policy allows us to maintain the quality of our mobile Internet service and give all Globe customers a fair opportunity to enjoy our network,” Globe's FUP states.

 

Such text messages was posted by tech websites Yugatech and PinoyTechBlog.

 

Like Globe Telecom, Smart Communications also has an FUP that sets a data cap. It allocates 1.5GB per month of mobile browsing.

 

Smart's FUP also states that those who exceed this allocation “may experience reduction in speed for the duration of the billing cycle of their subscription.”

The same PinoyTechBlog post shows a Data usage warning from Smart.

 

NTC: Telcos allowed to set FUPs

 

In a "24 Oras" report aired Thursday evening , the National Telecommunications Commission said telcos are allowed to implement FUPs to protect their subscribers.
 

 

“May mga gumagamit na umaabuso. Para yung iba ay makagamit doon sa network na iyan, ay ililipat ka ngayon sa mas mabagal na network,” explained NTC Director Ed Cabarios.

 

However, data plan users must be informed of the terms in the FUPs before they subscribe to these data plans. “Dapat [from] the start, alam na ng consumer iyon. Kung promo iyan, dapat nakasama sa promo,” Cabarios said.

 

On its website, ICT and civil rights advocacy group Democracy.Net.PH (PHNetDems) said data capping is a common practice among Internet Service Providers and telcos in the Philippines. 

 

It also said there are instance when data capping is justified "such as where broadband service is abused through the illegal sharing of copyrighted material."

Citing data from the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators, PHNetDems said abusive users, who make up from 5 to 7 percent of all users, hog 80 percent of available bandwidth.

 

"Data capping per se is not a bad thing. Unfortunately, data capping, as it is implemented here, is unreasonable and indiscriminate: Oftentimes, it punishes both the innocent and the abusive users," PHNetDems said.

 

The group noted the increasing use of broadband communications, especially through smartphones, in the Philippines. It said that this has changed how people work and how they communicate both with people in the Philippines and abroad.  

 

"And yet, the using broadband service for legitimate traffic for work can be severely penalized," it said.

 

Globe responds

 

Globe's move to ramp up this limit was something many users did not take well. The company responded by releasing an infographic through Twitter explaining “The Real Deal on FUP”.
 

Worry not, here's the real deal on the Fair Use Policy (FUP) - pic.twitter.com/P23ZxfeLO9

— talk2GLOBE (@talk2GLOBE) January 31, 2014

Another infographic showed iOS and Android users how they can check how much data they have been using through their phones' built-in data trackers.

Do you know how much data you're using? Check yours through your phone! pic.twitter.com/WuUWZ9OG0q

— talk2GLOBE (@talk2GLOBE) February 6, 2014

Globe has not provided an official statement nor obliged GMA News Online with an interview as of this post.

 

Smart, flexible with FUP?

 

Meanwhile, Smart's public affairs chief Ramon Isberto said the telco has been flexible with its FUP.

 

“This has not been an issue for us largely because we have more than sufficient capacity to handle our mobile data traffic,” Isberto said in an email to GMA News Online on Wednesday.

 

Smart's FUP for their postpaid service was set sometime in 2010, “in the early days of mobile data”, as a precautionary measure, he said.

 

“When we modernized our network in 2011-2012, a significant amount of that investment went to building up our data capacity. So, we have a lot of headroom for growth in data usage,” Isberto said. “That's why we have been very flexible with respect to our FUP.”

 

Isberto said that Smart is studying data traffic patterns and customer data usage on their network for an updated fair-use policy. — JDS, GMA News