Topic: Three UK ISPs Responsible for 65% of Illegal Downloads

[Clive]

ISPReview

New research from Envisional, an Internet analyst firm, has alleged that just three of the UK's largest ISPs were responsible for 65% of illegal music (P2P torrent) downloads during June and July 2008.

Envisional traced over 28,000 unique IP addresses during June and found that 22.6% belonged to the Carphone Warehouse (TalkTalk, AOL UK etc.), 21.6% were from Virgin Media and BT took the last spot of 21.2%. July remained virtually identical, albeit with Virgin Media on 22.8%, BT 21.5% and the Carphone Warehouse at 21.4%.

The figure is hardly surprising given that, combined, all three providers account for 11m of the UKs broadband customer base, while the market as a whole is home to over 16m. Naturally the number of illegal downloader’s is directly proportional to the scale of the ISPs concerned.

Still, it will be interesting to see whether the figures remain the same after the new illegal file-sharing warning letters have had a chance to circulate. We suspect that, provided the scheme is a success, then the industry may start turning its attention more towards smaller providers.

[Simon]

Presumably Tiscali aren't there because no-one's actually managed to complete a download with them yet.   

[Clive]

 

[chorleydave]

Well. people go on about Tiscali, but I have been with them for just on a year, have never had a single dropped connection and get decent speeds.  I have just done the Think Broadband speed test and am getting 1828.25Kbps down and 241.90Kbps up, on a 2MB connection at peak time.

Not only that, I get line rental, free anytime landline calls (and free calls to some overseas locations) plus uncapped broadband - subject to Fair Use Policy for a measly £14.99 a month.  OK, you can't use torrents etc between about 6PM and midnight, but I don't download much and, when I do, I leave it to download while I'm sleeping.

[sam]

but aren't these also the 3 biggest ISPs, so surely you would expect it.

[Camstop]

but aren't these also the 3 biggest ISPs, so surely you would expect it.

That was my first thought  ':|

[Simon]

but aren't these also the 3 biggest ISPs, so surely you would expect it.

Well, it did say that, and it's pretty obvious really.  I wonder who gets paid for doing these pointless reports?