Traffic Shaping: Fact vs. Fiction
Lately there has been a lot of press about ‘traffic shaping’ – the technique that some ISPs have employed to manage the flow of information across their networks. But what exactly is it, and how does it affect you?
Lately there has been a lot of press about ‘traffic shaping’ – the technique that some ISPs have employed to manage the flow of information across their networks. But what exactly is it, and how does it affect you?
By now you’ve probably read several articles about traffic shaping and/or bandwidth throttling. Some have said that the practice threatens the principles of Net Neutrality, and that it may even constitute an invasion of privacy.
If you’re wondering what all this means, or you’re beginning to worry that you need to be looking over your shoulder while you surf, you’re not alone.
With the exception of a recent Q&A published by the CBC, Canadian ISP’s have remained relatively quiet on this issue, preferring not to discuss the issue publicly. This has lead to further doubt, confusion and frankly, frustration on the part of customers and others.
Since we here at Sync have the unusual benefit of being part of the same company that runs Bell’s ISP (Sympatico), we felt we should do our part to shed some light on exactly what traffic shaping, bandwidth throttling and deep packet inspection (DPI) is all about and how it does or does not affect users of Sympatico’s service, specifically.
Over the next few days, we’ll be posting a quick "101" style article that will review the terminology, technology and jargon associated with home internet connections.
Shortly after that, we’re going to shoot a video interview with some of the folks at Bell who are directly responsible for managing the network that all ISP subscribers use. We have a lot of questions that we’re going to try to answer, but we’d also like to open the floor to you: what questions do you have regarding traffic shaping, throttling, net neutrality or privacy? What would you like to ask Bell about its practices?
Send us your questions via e-mail. We’ll try to include as many as possible in our interview.
To get notified as soon as we post the follow-up items on this topic, subscribe to this blog via RSS (see the link below), or bookmark this page which we will update with links to the new posts.
I too am fed up with big corp's' attitudes to the consumer and their general greed. I came up for renewal with Bell and did not have the option to renew my existing package. If I wanted same speed, "up to" that is, I would have to pay more. Mind you the "more" also contained their own unknown virus scanner and other useless things I do not want or need. I use a virus package subscribed directly from the USA and it has always been less than the same service proffered by either Sympatico or Rogers (including exchange rate over the years). Shame to Bell for forcing product packages to boost bottom line in the name of "improved service" to customers.
Bell's marriage to MSN and Roger's to Yahoo also turned my stomach as both ended up in problems with proprietory issues. Give me the Mozilla group for life! Add what "you" want to your tool-bars or for functionality.
I look forward to future articles on this, but will not sub to RSS to do so.
Really… get-a-clue… nice article that totally skirts the fact that sympatico is charging customers for one thing and giving them another. Note to sympatico… there is not justification for this… none… in fact it can be called bait and switch…
What I'd really like to know is why does bell feel that they can use traffic shaping on consumers who are paying full price for their full speed of service.
Why do Canadians have to get screwed when other countries (Including the United States) have CHEAPER, and FASTER internet connections, while we're stuck with two big companies that don't really offer anything.
We have to sit there and take it because we don't get a choice.
*uck the CRTC, *uck Rogers and *uck bell.
I understand traffic shaping as being a tool to increase throughput. It's a tool or process used in all multitasking computers to grant / revoke priority so all users may complete their jobs in a reasonable amount of time.
My interest is in who or which class of users get priority, how those classes are determined, and if there are any rules to protect from abuse.
1) How does Bell state traffic shaping/throttling is necessary due to relieve congestion, yet open up a ONLINE VIDEO STORE (www.bellvideostore.ca)where you can download massive movie files?
2) If their network is so congested that requires such traffic shaping/throttling, where is their proof?
3) If their network is so congested why did they start throttling only their customers and leave 3rd party ISP companies alone. Only to throttling them many months later. Was it because many of their own customers were leaving for their competition?
Sympatico (and Rogers) should really take a close look at the feedback here so far. Do you see anyone defending their ISP ?? Absolutely not, and for good reason – the people aren't happy. The big players will not do the right thing by their customers unless they are forced to. I am feeling totally ripped off because I am paying for a service that has been downgraded after I made the initial agreement. This is a breach of contract. I imagine Bell has slipped in some fine print in that agreement that allows them to do this, but they are not honouring the intent of the service agreement. If any lawyers out there want to bring a class action against Bell, sign me up!
My connection is so slow at times it's like being on dial up back in the late 90's – even loading a webpage or surfing has become abysmal.
I will watch this series of articles with great interest. If other ripped-off customers out there know of good alternate ISP's let's hear about them…
Why is it that if we are going on certain websites or download sites that Bell and other ISP's feel the need to slow down our service and speed. Are we not paying the same monthly fees as everyone else using this ISP. The difference is that regular people use the internet for business, etc. Students and the GEN-X use the internet more for downloading and uploading and Bell and other ISP's are trying to cater to the business clientel, rather that the youth which really is the future of their business.
I have friends that do not even watch television anymore they just download the episode they want from the internet, commercial free. Hey isn't Bell and Rogers, Media service providers as well? This is why they have started to slow down the downloads because they want to insure those advertising dollars to those channels they carry and they would rather you pay-per-view a movie rather than download it. Quite frankly even if you Pay-per-view a movie once you can still record it on a DVD Recorder and watch it again later or lend it to a friend.
They have to wise up and so does Hollywood. In the next 10 to 20 years, everyone will be downloading TV shows, movies, etc. The way to advertise products is by placing them in the movies, shows, etc. like BMW and Shmirnoff Vodka did with James Bond.
If ISP's keep trying to slow down downloads, all they are going to is p_ss-off their clients and new ISP's will enter the market and allow regular download speeds, which will cause them to lose market-share and profits. From a service stand point, Bell and these other ISP's have a lot to still learn.