I wonder if ISPs are favouring these lower upload speeds to slow down seeding of torrents.

I doubt it or wouldn't all packages be cut!

I don't think so - I'll go with mlmclaren on that.

The 40/20 was a very strange beast for a budget-priced ISP, unless they got some limited period high discount on 80/20 to provide it. Even that's unlikely as they must have picked up tens of thousands on it, most of whom will stay for a long time.

The 40/2, as someone who had a brainwave suggested, may be the result of analysing the customer base and upload usage. If that were the case, I wouldn't be sure they've thought it through. At signing up time, which is all that matters, the natural preference is to go for the highest speeds you can get.

The counter-argument I nearly put to that is that possibly few (non-forumgeeks) look at the upstream speed when signing up. The reason I don't advance it is that it would remove any reason for offering 40/20 in the first place.

Oh wait ...!

For someone getting a decent download speed of say over 12 meg on ADSL2+, but frustrated with 1 meg upload speeds for things like cloud backup, ftp, picture uploads and video calling, the 40/10 package can make a lot of sense. 40/2 makes a lot less sense, so they may just decide to stick with ADSL2+ in that scenario.

I probably fall into that camp actually. I hope eventually the 40/2 product is scrapped at wholesale level, especially given the very marginal cost difference to the ISP between 40/2 and 40/10.

I'm sure 6-12 months ago there was talk of OR dropping it. TalkTalk may have jumped on that of course.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

TalkTalk may have jumped on that of course.

Yep. Maybe TalkTalk are happy now that another ISP has mediocre upload speeds on 40 meg fibre!

If the word on the vine regarding the competition between BT and TalkTalk is true, we are about to witness a game of limbo....

"How Low Can They Gooooo!"

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

For someone getting a decent download speed of say over 12 meg on ADSL2+, but frustrated with 1 meg upload speeds for things like cloud backup, ftp, picture uploads and video calling, the 40/10 package can make a lot of sense. 40/2 makes a lot less sense, so they may just decide to stick with ADSL2+ in that scenario.

Yup. I'm on 12 Meg / 1 Meg and I don't need 40 Meg or more download speeds. What I want is something like 20 Meg down and 5 Meg up, no DL limits (well maybe 100GB peak) and reliable and at a reasonable price.

Time to shop around. I will not upgrade to a 2 Meg upload when my neighbour can get a 60-70 Meg downloads with no limits.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

Time to shop around. I will not upgrade to a 2 Meg upload when my neighbour can get a 60-70 Meg downloads with no limits.

I think you're comparing apples with oranges - PN still offer Unlimited 80/20 (for £5/month more than 40/2)

PN still offer Unlimited 80/20 (for £5/month more than 40/2)

and for about the same that most providers offer 40/10 (subject to special offers, discounts, etc etc)