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Verizon accused of throttling Netflix and YouTube, admits to video optimization
Source: Ars Technica
NEW INNOVATION: SLOWER VIDEO —
Verizon accused of throttling Netflix and YouTube, admits to “video optimization”
Verizon claims mobile video experience not affected; some customers disagree.
JON BRODKIN - 7/21/2017, 12:24 PM
Verizon Wireless customers this week noticed that Netflix's speed test tool appears to be capped at 10Mbps, raising fears that the carrier is throttling video streaming on its mobile network.
When contacted by Ars this morning, Verizon acknowledged using a new video optimization system but said it is part of a temporary test and that it did not affect the actual quality of video. The video optimization appears to apply both to unlimited and limited mobile plans.
But some YouTube users are reporting degraded video, saying that using a VPN service can bypass the Verizon throttling. The Federal Communications Commission generally allows mobile carriers to limit video quality as long as the limitations are imposed equally across different video services despite net neutrality rules that outlaw throttling. The net neutrality rules have exceptions for network management.
"We've been doing network testing over the past few days to optimize the performance of video applications on our network," a Verizon spokesperson told Ars. "The testing should be completed shortly. The customer video experience was not affected."
-snip-
Verizon accused of throttling Netflix and YouTube, admits to “video optimization”
Verizon claims mobile video experience not affected; some customers disagree.
JON BRODKIN - 7/21/2017, 12:24 PM
Verizon Wireless customers this week noticed that Netflix's speed test tool appears to be capped at 10Mbps, raising fears that the carrier is throttling video streaming on its mobile network.
When contacted by Ars this morning, Verizon acknowledged using a new video optimization system but said it is part of a temporary test and that it did not affect the actual quality of video. The video optimization appears to apply both to unlimited and limited mobile plans.
But some YouTube users are reporting degraded video, saying that using a VPN service can bypass the Verizon throttling. The Federal Communications Commission generally allows mobile carriers to limit video quality as long as the limitations are imposed equally across different video services despite net neutrality rules that outlaw throttling. The net neutrality rules have exceptions for network management.
"We've been doing network testing over the past few days to optimize the performance of video applications on our network," a Verizon spokesperson told Ars. "The testing should be completed shortly. The customer video experience was not affected."
-snip-
Read more: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/07/verizon-wireless-apparently-throttles-streaming-video-to-10mbps/
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Verizon wants everyone to sign up for its own cable/OnDemand/streaming service under Fios instead of cluttering the internet with their competitor's service.
This speaks directly to the Net Neutrality law that's being challenged right now and will probably go down. Nobody is standing up for us "little people" and our rights are being trampled because too much money can be made by the ISP's. They sponsor the legislation, and they get all the profits. Sound familiar?
Does anybody really think the GOP will stick up for OUR rights?
