This is SE, not the players
Both my wife and i play FFXI, and we started experiencing connectivity issues with POL as well as in game when we could actually get to the downloading data screen upon login. We recieve multiple 0011 errors, and it takes many attempts over 30 minutes or more to even log in to a character completely.
I called SE tech support this morning to be told to check router port settings as well as directly connecting to my modem to make sure the router wasn't an issue. I then called my ISP to double check on ports with them and we still had the same issues. I actually had the an ISP tech worker come to my home and work on the connectivity issue, and he said it wasn't the ISP OR my router/computer etc.
He then went to playonline website in an attempt to download the POL files from their vista or 7 compatability section, and he informed me that the download took 3 times longer than it normally should have. This tells me that there are server issues on SE side.
I call tech support back and was told that SE intentionally caps the download speeds to prevent severe congestion. First off, why would a cap be needed for a file that doesn't see an incredible amount of traffic compared to a version update? Then SE tech support tells me that it is my ISP that is the issue. I proceed to tell them that all bases have been covered on my end and he starts denying everything. I ask to speak with someone else in hopes of looking at the issue from a different angle. He said there was nobody else. Then he tells me "I have to get going". Really?! It's now standard practice to blow off a customer like that when it's obvious that there are no problems on the customers side of the connection?!
I called my ISP back and the tech support guy that i had been working with offered to call SE and talk to them about the issues. Waiting to hear back from him as of right now.
Now i find that i'm not the only one having the issue, but i'm one of many having this issue. SE, stop denying fault and own up to your problems. Your customers shouldn't have to suffer from lack of communication on your end.