BT stops port throttling in time for Watchdog programme

BT has lifted the "port throttling" restrictions on its ADSL service just a few hours ago and just one day before TV programme Watchdog plans to take the company to task for it.

Users of the company's broadband service, which currently costs £40 a month, will now be able to download data from file-sharing sites like Kazaa, Gnutella and eDonkey at the same speed as all other sites.

However, BT has refused to promise that the restrictions will remain lifted, claiming that it still needs to manage its network. Asking the obvious question, we were assured: "We haven't done it just for Watchdog."

BT finally admitted to port throttling on its service on Monday, despite having categorically denied such behaviour in the preceding months. Mounting evidence against BT was thought to be a deciding factor behind the admission.

A BT spokesman told us with regard to the matter: "We didn't communicate to people well enough in advance what we were planning to do."

BBC TV programme Watchdog questioned BT last week over accusations that it was running a two-tier system on its dial-up service Anytime. This week (tomorrow), its second programme is to focus around what the company has told its helpdesk staff and the restrictions it has put on the ADSL service. ®

Related Link

Watchdog's report into Anytime

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