TRAFFIC IS THE TROUBLE WITH NET NEUTRALITY TODAY
The notion that ISPs should treat all types of traffic equally is naïve, non commercial and ludicrous. The Net Neutrality crowd would have a point if the internet was government endorsed, publicly funded and the web was a public service resource, in the same manner as the BBC is today. In such a scenario you could argue that everyone was contributing to the upkeep of the network, so all would deserve the same high quality of service.
However, bandwidth hogs make a truly viable ‘neutral net’ untenable, as 10% of subscribers consume 90% of network bandwidth. Imagine if you couldn’t get BBC1 on your television because your neighbour was watching TV in two different rooms at the same time as you. Understandably, you’d want your licence fee back. In the same way, you can’t pay double your licence fee to get twice as many programmes. However, you do have the extra options to subscribe to cable, satellite and pay per view events to gain access to premium content and a wider range of channels.
Internet traffic needs managing to ensure equality for all. Imagine a world where speeding drivers didn’t get tickets. Anyone who’s been gridlocked on the M25 because reckless drivers caused a four lane pile up would agree that a similar outcome for the internet must be avoided if we are to reap the full benefits of its services in the 21st century.
Technology, such as Ellacoya’s IP Service Control System (IP SCS), allows traffic management to be possible. Picture the IP SCS as a traffic controller for the internet, classifying and prioritising network traffic to stabilise usage and bandwidth.
Technology, such as Ellacoya’s IP Service Control System (IP SCS), allows traffic management to be possible. Picture the IP SCS as a traffic controller for the internet, classifying and prioritising network traffic to stabilise usage and bandwidth.
The growing usage of TVoIP or VoD requires that there is efficient internet traffic management as well as a pragmatic view of the internet and its limitations.
How can VoIP become mainstream if a service provider can’t guarantee a 999 call? Europe is ahead of the US on this as its internet traffic is already shaped and managed. People who choose premium services, downloading more at faster speeds, rightly pay to do so. Heavy bandwidth usage is a privilege, not a right. I say let the consumer have the last word on this.
How can VoIP become mainstream if a service provider can’t guarantee a 999 call? Europe is ahead of the US on this as its internet traffic is already shaped and managed. People who choose premium services, downloading more at faster speeds, rightly pay to do so. Heavy bandwidth usage is a privilege, not a right. I say let the consumer have the last word on this.
James Morgan, Managing Director, Imtech Telecom.