When, where, and why did Suddenlink introduce its Internet usage summary tool?
We first introduced this tool to our residential Internet customers in Clovis, N.M., in 2009. Recently, we expanded the availability of the tool to our residential Internet customers in and around New Bern, N.C., and in portions of our cable system serving Beckley, W. Va. Later this year, we'll consider expanding the tool to even more customers.
This online tool helps residential customers monitor their Internet usage each month and determine if they are within the typical usage range.
If they are well above the typical range, it could mean several things. For instance: a virus or "spyware"
application might have infected a customer's computer and started generating high levels of Internet traffic, or
someone else might be using a customer's Internet connection without his or her knowledge. To help guard against
those issues, we are offering customers a
list of steps they can consider, to help make sure their computers and
Internet accounts are protected and secure.
What is "Internet usage"?
Much like electric usage is measured in kilowatts, and water usage is measured in gallons, Internet usage is measured in gigabytes (GB).
For reference, if someone used 25 GB, she'd be able to send or receive more than 1.5 million emails, or download more than 6,500 songs,
or watch more than 150 hours of YouTube videos.
Does Suddenlink plan to set a maximum usage allowance for its Internet customers, like other companies are doing? Do you plan to charge
extra if a customer's usage is too high?
Those steps are not part of our current plan. Our only goal at this time is to help the few customers whose usage is well above (approximately double) the high end of the typical range to identify the reasons why and take steps to protect and secure their computers and accounts.
What is "typical usage"?
It can vary depending on the type of package to which a customer subscribes. The table below summarizes approximate typical usage ranges for several Suddenlink Internet services.
| Max. Download Speed |
1.5 Mbps* |
10 Mbps |
15 Mbps |
20 Mbps |
| Typical Monthly Usage |
Up to 31 GB** |
Up to 43 GB |
Up to 66 GB |
Up to 78 GB |
* Mbps = Megabit(s) per second
** GB = Gigabyte(s)
How many customers experience monthly usage that is well above the typical range?
Very few. In fact, only about one or two out of every one hundred customers has usage that is well above (approximately double) the high end of the typical range.
What causes high usage?
A number of things. For instance: a virus or "spyware" application might have infected a customer's computer and started generating
high levels of Internet traffic, or someone else might be using a customer's Internet connection without his or her knowledge. To
help guard against those issues, we are offering customers a
list of steps
they can consider, to help make sure their computers and Internet accounts are protected and secure.
Could higher Internet speeds cause me to use more?
Not necessarily. If two people are doing the same tasks online, using the same amount of bandwidth, the one with the faster speed
will simply complete her tasks faster than the one with the slower speed. That said, people who order packages with faster speeds
tend to do more on the Internet than those who order packages with slower speeds. That's why the typical ranges vary by type of
package. See table above.
How can I monitor my usage?
If you haven't already done so, register your account at www.suddenlink.net; when finished, click the link for "My Internet Usage Summary." If you're already registered at suddenlink.net, log on, go to "My Account," and then click the link for "My Internet Usage Summary."
Note: One customer will never be able to see how many GB another customer is using. Each customer will only be able to see his or
her usage versus the typical monthly range.
