So, a mate of mine told me that a there could be a problem if I download to much from the internet. While the internet account is an unlimited account, I could get "blacklisted" by the telecommunications company.

I know that there are "fair usage" limit after which I can get cancelled if I use to much. But what would be there monthly usage that would get me in this range? And is there any evidence of "blacklisting" that I don't get anymore new contracts?

It is a Telekom DSL flat 16.000, I think the contract is called "Surf & IP", for those who want to know more. Obviously German input is especially helpful, but I think with digital distribution getting more and more used it might be a bigger problem.

Is the contract at your name? Do you have it? They usually specify bandwith rates and their limits. Plus im almost certain that in the EU ISPs have to disclose their caps to customers, so give them a call.

Googling "surf & ips" for your isp is not returning me anything too useful.

Since the T-Mobile here is owned by your Telekom, I would assume that they function the same.

You have a cap of 100-200-450-XXX amount of GBs to download / upload per month. Once you get past that cap, your speed goes down to 256 kbps or 64 kbps (can't remember which one was exactly).

They don't do any blacklisting at all, just lower your download / upload speeds.

My contract does not have caps listed. Only other contract options have.

What is an average internet usage nowadays anyway? Considering games are getting bigger and bigger and streaming becomes more and more prominent I think 200 GB a month isn't all that unusual.

as it is different for each provider the simplest thing to do is just call them and ask.

i can download 1tb and wouldnt get in trouble.

You're the lawyer dude, but I'd say that would legally be a very risky practice. If it's not in your contract, and they are selectively sabotaging your service in favour of other users, I would have thought they'd be breaching that contract. If not in breach of any particular clause, then surely in breach of the spirit of it. Anyway, that's more a question than an answer.

You should be able to test if it's being done though. Apparently Glasnost is worth looking at, but I'm sure you're capable of a googling yourself.

I do know that it doesn't happen on my ISP, Virgin Media, though expensive and this time round tedious to get working, have always provided even if I'm hammering through 20GB steam downloads.

I know that it is legally a breach of contract and a nightmare for the provider if proven. But sadly the law isn't always followed. Googling gave me nothing substantial so far. Most I get is from 2006 and that was when there was a whole bunch of those happening on one distinctive service provider.

I was hoping that somebody knew of those "practises".

There is most likely a "weasel clause" in fine print somewhere stating that they reserve the right to limit/deny access to the service for any reason or no reason at all. Of course, that doesn't mean they'll do it, or even that it would necessarily be legal for them to do so. However, most service providers have clauses like that, even GOG.

So was Glasnost no use to you? It seems to have some fairly in depth research. I doubt you'll get more than anecdotal evidence from anywhere else.

Oops, I thought you were talking about some obscure nerd website nobody knew about.

I'm now checking out the link. It looks really helpful, thanks!

Damn, I hate when I'm in an area I don't know enough about...

There you go:
http://www.golem.de/1110/87301.html
http://www.golem.de/1110/87311.html

In short: Telekom had some hidden lines in the contracts to limit the speed for some higher dsl speeds for the common flatrates (25 MBit comfort surf) after hitting 100 GB. They said they didn't done it yet, but had the option. DSL 16000 was not involved.