[kictanet] Should streaming services pay ISPs for increased traffic?

Sat Oct 9 09:48:06 EAT 2021

@Mwendwa Kivuva <kivuva at kictanet.or.ke> and all

I think ISPs are not being realistic. On one hand they squeeze us on 'fair
usage' on the other hand they are squeezing content providers for 'over
using' their pipes. If content creation is so lucrative why not get into
it?

Let me remind everyone the principles of Net Neutrality -

*Net neutrality is the concept that states that organizations, such as
Internet service providers, should treat all data on the internet equally.
It promotes a free and open internet, where users can access content
without restriction, provided the content does not violate any laws.*

If we allow this loop hole you suggest where does it end? Let's take a look
at our local scenario in Kenya.

Safaricom is already in the content business. If we allow this liberal
interpretation of Net Neutrality it won't be long before they demand
gatekeeping charges from Viusasa and other local content providers...Which
will create a clear conflict of interest.

Let's be careful. I have ALWAYS advocated for a clear Policy and Regulatory
interpretation of Net Neutrality Rules in this country. We are yet to see
any. MOICT and CA wako wapi?

Regards

*Ali Hussein*

Fintech | Digital Transformation

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
organizations that I work with.

On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 1:25 PM Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Interesting angle Washington. It is indeed a chicken and egg situation.
>
> As a network engineer, you know the implication of the international
> transit data on the cost of running an ISP. Profitability of an ISP is
> based on the assumption that on average, the users will not consume more
> than fair quota, and if they do, other users using limited services but
> paying the same amount per package will compensate and balance out the
> cost, leaving some margin for profitability. If streaming services squeeze
> out this advantage from ISPs, which is very easy because you just leave the
> service running, and it consumes all bandwidth, what recourse does ISPs
> have? Increase the cost to consumers? Share the burden with commercial
> content providers? Degrade service offered by content providers? Where
> should the balance be?
>
> On Fri, 8 Oct 2021, 12:51 Odhiambo Washington via KICTANet, <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 12:38 PM Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> In the United States, Netflix has been paying a fee to broadband
>>> provider Comcast Corp for faster streaming speeds.
>>>
>>> South Korea's ISP SK Broadband has sued Netflix to pay for costs from
>>> increased network traffic and maintenance work because of a surge of
>>> viewers to the U.S. firm's content.
>>> Seoul court said Netflix should "reasonably" give something in return to
>>> the internet service provider for network usage, and multiple South Korean
>>> lawmakers have spoken out against content providers who do not pay for
>>> network usage despite generating explosive traffic.
>>>
>>> other content providers such as Amazon, Apple and Facebook are paying SK
>>> Broadband for usage of the network.
>>>
>>> Should content providers compensate network providers for increased
>>> traffic to their network? Is this a net neutrality issue where all content
>>> should be treated equally?se or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam,
>>> do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>> How is my usage of my services I am paying my ISP for being interpreted
>> as "usage by my content provider"?
>> Is this the chicken-and-egg situation I have been hearing about?
>> I am already paying my ISP. If I didn't, they'd not even see the traffic
>> to Netflix, YT, etc.
>>
>> Content providers compensating network providers for increased traffic to
>> their network seems like stealing for me. The content providers are not
>> using the ISP network. It's the client who pays for the link who does. Do
>> ISPs want to give FREE connections to me so that I can use Netflix, YT,
>> HBOMax and have these content providers pay them for my own traffic?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Best regards,
>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>> Nairobi,KE
>> +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
>> "Oh, the cruft.", egrep -v '^$|^.*#' :-)
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> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions
> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet is a
> catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
> Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building,
> Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
> engagement platform.
>
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