Wellington, May 20 NZPA - Telecom has scrapped its "Big Time" unlimited broadband plan from today.

Tens of thousands of customers were able to download as much as they wanted to for $69.95 a month since the service launched last July.

But Telecom said there were a number of challenges to delivering a plan with no set monthly data allowance.

"The management of traffic on the plan has become particularly difficult, meaning Big Time has been removed from sale," the company said on its website.

Telecom homes services director Ralph Brayham told The Dominion Post Telecom was the only internet provider offering an uncapped plan and a minority of customers were downloading thousands of movies a month. It had ended up with "all the vampires".

Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Ernie Newman said the move was disappointing: "If you are the only restaurant in town with an `all you can eat' menu, you are going to attract the big eaters."

Telecom said it would contact Big Time customers about their options for other broadband plans.