iTunes download speed is much slower than speed test done by internet provider.

I have the same problem. I am using an Apple MacBookPro connected to internet via Virgin 100Mbs service. I rarely get my full 100Mbs, but various speedtests show I am getting about 20Mbs, wilst my Apple iTunes download is clocking in at a limp 3Mbs a tenth of the what you say Apple advertise.

I do not knwo where the restriction is, perhaps Virgin throttle access to certain sites to sustain overall performance. Whatever the reason, the download speeds are now so slow as to frequently deter me from bothering.

In the last month or two iTunes Store in the UK has become so slow that it's virtually useless at times, and I think it's probably ISP throttling to blame, but Apple may also have a hand in it.

Virgin Media in the UK openly throttles traffic according to a complex and ever-changing customer disservice policy http://www.virginmedia.com/traffic

However, I've studied the current Virgin throttling policy and it doesn't account for the abysmal iTunes Store download speeds we're experiencing. Specifically:

- It is not unusual for my 100Mbps down Virgin service to actually run at close to rated speed, and it almost always tests (ookla speed test website, or FTP to a server with a gigabit internet connection at my company's UK data centre) at least 40Mbps down.

- Virgin claims that "fair use" of my 100Mbps service is 10GB during the period 4-9pm, and that once I've used that they will throttle my download speeds by 50% for 5 hours.

- It's not that unusual for me to exceed the 10 GB limit.

- If Virgin's policy is to throttle me 50% from 100 to 50 I should be seeing something like 50 down. But actually I NEVER see that (even if I'm on a gigabit fibre connection at the office, so I think Apple DOES have some sort of throttling), but I do frequently see iTunes running at 18-20 down. So being throttled by Virgin from 100 to 50 should make no real difference.

- HOWEVER, on my Virgin connection, evenings in the last 2 months I'm FREQUENTLY getting 2 Mbps OR SLOWER itunes downloads.

- Now here's the rub: at the same time I'm being effectively prevented from using iTunes or Apple TV, I can run a speed test (or download a file from my data centre OR pull streaming video from a server at my data centre) at 20-60 Mbps.

SO... It appears that Virgin may be SELECTIVELY throttling iTunes and/or Apple is throttling us.

Anyone have any further input on this? Or corroboration?

Exactly the same sort of behaviour I am experiencing. FWIW, 100Mbs Virgin service. located in UK CB1 9YZ (in case there is some regional component to this?) Typically get reduced connection rate in the evening when everyone else is home but speedtest show download speed far in excess of that which I get when tryong to download movies from iTunes. It has greatly reduced the amount that I use the iTunes service.

-- Michael Ellis

I'm going to post this in several threads. I hate doing that so I apologize but I hope more people can see this as it very well may be the issue for many.

Six months ago I had a very similar issue to the one I just started having in the past couple days. My speed tests were great and I have a 10Mbit DSL connection. Downloads from what appeared to be anywhere were great except from Apple. Apple said there was no problem. My ISP said there was no problem. I was very persistant with my ISP though and after a month of my ISP insisting there wasn't a problem or that the problem was me or Apple, they finally found a problem on what they called their DS3 going back to the Main Switch on my Line Group.

So back to the past couple of days. Same problem. Today I contacted the person I was in talking with six months ago at my ISP to see if it's on their end. They just got back to me that it was indeed their DS3 again. My download speed from Apple is back to normal. Very odd that I was only seeing an issue with Apple's servers though.