Packet Loss
Having noticed that my data usage was climbing while my actual computer and network usage was decreasing, I tried to ascertain if Telecom's data accounting was in fact counting packets that were dropped within their network. This page contains evidence that leads me to conclude the affirmative, that Telecom can charge it's customers up to four times for a file they upload through a DSL connection. I believe Telecom are aware of this and it is the reason that they doubled the data allowance on some broadband plans.
The email below confirms that all data between modem and DSLAM is counted.
The tests below show that packet loss can cause uploaded files to to be transmitted four times (initial transmition 100% + retransmitted segments 300% = 400%). Thus, if any routers after the DSLAM/ISAM you are connected to drop packets, you may be debited 4GB for every 1GB that you are uploading. The months of data on the TRACERTs page shows that the major point of packet loss for Telecom's broadband users are nodes within it's own GGIS network.
Test # 1 (HTTP)
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Test # 2 (FTP) Win98SE on AMD, using SimplyCoolFTP to upload 64MB (67,200,800 bytes) from 4:30pm to 5:57pm Sunday, 14th October 2007 giving a real-world average speed of 12.5KB (12,873.72 bytes) per second.
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DSLAM/port changed 27/10/07 |
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Test # 4 (HTTP)
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Test # 5 (HTTP)
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