Glyn Wintle wrote:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumer/2010/06/ofcom-opens-debate-on-net-neutrality/
What is net neutrality?
Net neutrality is a concept based on the internet being a level playing field
for internet traffic. There are several definitions, but all share a concern
that traffic management by network operators and ISPs could lead to
discrimination between different traffic carried over the internet.
IMO - this is not a particularly useful description.
Quotas and other technical measures - deep packet inspection - shaping -
bandwidth limits are not put in place - generally - because the ISPs
hate us.
They are put in place to protect the network.
Proritising classes of traffic can be less bad than the alternatives.
A) Build out the network to take several times the peak yearly demand.
B) Apply a really low quota, to reduce the peak demand, as everyone is
scared of blowing it, and not being able to use the net that month.
C) (what is usually spoken of as net neutrality) Whitelisting some sites
to improve their performance.
And other possible alternatives.
Speaking in terms of plusnet - they have several classes of users -
depending on how much they've paid.
Pay a lot, and your connection is flat, and goes at line rate almost all
the time (except when extreme once-a-year peaks of demand hit).
Pay very little, and your VOIP goes smoothly, without delayed packets,
and all interactive protocols are prioritised highly, but bulk file
transfers are shaped down to a very small amount in peak hours.
Bandwidth is rarely free.
Net neutrality is normally not neutrality in terms of protocols, but
neutrality in terms of content provider.
It's the idea that - for example - the BBC iplayer site runs just as
slowly or as fast on any connection, as '4oD', or Dave Doing the Dishes
video player.
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