internet usage - 40GB enough?

andrewf75

Hi all,
Trying to work out whether I need unlimited broadband or if I can get away with a significantly cheaper contract with a maximum of 40GB per month.

We're definitely light users by todays standards, but can anyone tell me roughly what 40GB is in terms of usage?

Thanks!

Shrimply

Phone your provider and ask what your usage is. I was just in contact with sky as my 12 month contract was ending and the man I spoke to voluntarily told me that I used between 9 and 60GBs a month. Which is probably explained by the fact I'm quite often not at the flat for a week or so at a time.

Personally I'm very much in the just go unlimited camp, especially if you have children, or regular visitors etc that may make your usage less certain. If you shop around there are plenty of deals to be had on unlimited options, although it does depend on your situation a bit.

andrewf75

Thanks, will ask Virgin who I'm currently with.

benjus

If your usage is just web browsing, email etc then 40GB is loads.

If you use streaming audio then you should still be OK unless you have it on literally all the time.

If you use low resolution streaming video or Skype, then you'll be OK as long as the usage is reasonably light.

If you use high resolution streaming video or you download a lot of large files (e.g. high resolution video or software packages) then you'll get through 40GB quite quickly.

Cycrow

If you are on virgin, the superhub should tell you what you have currently used

spannerzone

If you start to stream HD video from iplayer or Netflix etc that certainly eats up the data.... since I've had fibre broadband I've watched a lot more online and gone from using 40GB a month to this month which is 242GB which I couldn't believe!

Pincher

40GB is plenty.

You can always upgrade to Unlimited.

It's not a crime.

brewerdave

Now we are using streaming regularly from Youtube for the grandkids and I have purchased an Android box to watch films, I'm getting thru ~ 100GB + per month vs ~ 25GB a short while ago. Even on "quiet" days we are exceeding 1GB per day now.