Summary: Learn how we manage traffic on our network, to ensure our broadband customers get the best possible service.

All traffic on our network is prioritised by type, with time-sensitive applications such as gaming and VoIP having the highest priority.

Higher priority traffic gets bandwidth before lower priority traffic. As the total bandwidth available is shared, this mean lower priority traffic can be slower at busy times when there's less bandwidth available.

If this seems confusing, think of it this way: the broadband network is like a motorway. When the traffic is light, all vehicles can move at the national speed-limit. Some lanes of the motorway have been reserved for important traffic, such as buses or emergency vehicles. During rush hour, most vehicles are forced to slow down. However, the traffic on the reserved lanes can continue to travel at high speed.

Without traffic management, P2P and download traffic would flood the network and cause slower speeds for other types of traffic.

1. Priority Levels

  • Platinum
  • Titanium
  • Gold & Gold Plated*
  • Silver
  • Bronze
  • Best Effort

*Gold Plated traffic (and some Gold Traffic) may be rate limited to prevent impact on interactive/Gold traffic at busy times. See Download Sites & servers to find out more about this.

2. How traffic is prioritised

Any application not using its standard port may not be identified correctly by our system. It may be classified as 'other' traffic in which case a lower priority may apply.

Activity Plusnet Value Plusnet Extra Plusnet Pro Business Option 1 Business Option 2 Business Option 3
Browsing & Email Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold
VoIP Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium
Gaming Gold Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium
Streaming Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold
VPN Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold
Plusnet FTP Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold
External FTP Gold Plated Gold Plated Gold Gold Gold Gold
Download sites Gold Plated Gold Plated Gold Gold Plated Gold Plated Gold Plated
Download servers Gold Plated Gold Plated Gold Gold Gold Gold
P2P & Binary USENET Best Effort Bronze Gold Bronze Bronze Bronze
Other Silver Silver Gold Gold Plated Gold Plated Gold Plated

This page last updated 15th April 2010

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