On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 9:50 AM, Patrick Haller <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 12:41:44AM +0800, Ong Jiin Joo wrote: > > > > How do you define net neutrality though? Because in the pure sense of the > > phrase, that has never happened since day 1. > I still don't have a finger on what constitutes network neutrality in the grey areas. Does it include how a carrier should handle congestion? - Is each individual packet equal, and hence equally likely to be dropped? - Should certain traffic flows (eg, voip or other realtime or emergency traffic) be prioritised? I'm also not clear whether the ERP analogy is an example of network neutrality, or discrimination. - Yes, ERP levies the same fee on all passenger cars, irrespective of whether they are flashy or pedestrian. - However, buses/trucks (jumbo packets?) and motorcycles get a different fee. Is such volume pricing considered to be neutral? - Each gantry is, considered by itself, neutral in that it levies a fee on traffic going under it. However, the placement of gantries can be a form of discrimination. For example, the CBD is ringfenced for congestion control. What if, hypothetically, Potong Pasir were similarly ringfenced? - Would the placement of gantries not be considered discrimination if they are located purely for the sake of congestion control? What if the infrastructure is neglected, leading to congestion, and ERP is applied? What if there are multiple gantries on the same road? I suppose another analogy would be the market for telco minutes. - a flat rate for all calls is clearly non-discriminatory. - Or is it discriminating against short duration calls or local calls, as they are subsidising longer duration calls and long distance calls? - Within Singapore, calls are levied a consistent cost regardless of who are the origin and destination telcos. However, depending on whether you prepay or postpay, or which plan you have signed up for, or which credit card you hold, there is a maze of different possible fees for incoming or outgoing calls. - What do we make of cellular telcos in other countries, where calls to other networks have much higher fees? Clearly discriminatory? - How about promotions whereby you can make calls to friends and family at no charge, or a lower fee? Is this a fair promotion when it applies to all numbers? Does this become discrimination if the telco's cost structure or marketing department applies this promotion only to calls within the same network?
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