James Delahunty
30 Oct 2013 19:36
An Internet Service Provider has been blocked from enforcing speed caps on customers who exceed a monthly data limit.
Deutsche Telekom has been told by a German court that its plans to limit its customers' data speeds after they reached a monthly limit would put them at an "unreasonable disadvantage."
Initially, the provider had hoped to enforce a 384kbps download speed limit on fixed-line customers who exceeded a monthly data cap. After public outcry, it pushed up the speed limitation to 2Mbps. However, some Deutsche Telekom customers in areas covered by fiber have services up to 200Mbbps, meaning the provider would be giving them only 1 percent of what they are paying for.
Verbraucherzentrale NRW, a German consumer lobby group, brought Deutsche Telekom to court to fight the planned speed caps, and now says there is no legal basis upon which the provider can enforce one.
Deutsche Telekom is studying the ruling and considering its options.