For several months 3 (three) have pushed the limits of their network by offering a massive 15GB of monthly data allowance for it’s users on certain mobile broadband packages. Yesterday, they dis-continued these deals and, although at first this may seem like a blow for consumers (particularly just before the Christmas rush), we think that this is a very good move by 3, and that it will improve the quality of their service for the majority of their users.

The vast majority of 3’s mobile broadband users use less than 5GB per month, with the average monthly usage for subscribers to their laptop deals at around 1.5GB. This means that 3 are reducing the strain put on the their network resources by their heaviest users, and not their average and light (and even fairly heavy) users.

This move is in line with last month’s announcement about 3’s traffic shaping strategy, as that too is aimed at increasing the available resources for the average user by reducing the use of the very heavy users.

We’re in favour of anything that improves overall mobile broadband service and the experience provided for consumers. The fact that very heavy users are penalised is not ideal, certainly, but given the constraints of the available resources, it’s the only real option, and we wholeheartedly support it.