[kictanet] KICTANet Digest, Vol 164, Issue 18

Fri Jan 14 04:17:00 EAT 2022

Good day all,

It's time to revisit the topic of net neutrality which in my opinion hasn't
been quite fleshed out.

ISPs in the early days, circa the '90s, had assumptions that today no
longer hold true. From my reading, users were expected to do light tasks
like check their email, surf the web and occasionally download some files.
Well these assumptions have taken ~30 years to validate and they are being
broken down!

Reality today is that innovations have further pushed and strained the net.
The "inter networks" is just a collection of networks and computers
communicating with each other. In the early days, large orgs or
corporations had mutual and voluntary agreements of peering into each
other's networks where the value of the traffic was assumed at the end of
day/month etc would be balanced between what a peer pushed through you and
what you pushed through them.

Fast forward to today, Content companies are the ones pushing all the
bandwidth down and there is no reciprocity. What happens to switches and
their buffers at the ISPs? They start to drop packets as they are  being
saturated/bogged down by the spikes. What happens to all other traffic like
people doing a web search, scrolling through emails, reading blogs etc?
They will all be affected by packet loss, slower pings(higher RTTs) and
increased jitter(packet delay). The other ISP's customers will simply be
given priority!

Yes, it was a failure on the ISPs when they were building their business
models but at the end of day something has to give. And yes, there is
prioritization in traffic like for voice and video. VOIP packets have
priority tags(are moved up the queue) and ever wonder why in
networks(mobile or WI-FI) you are defaulted to a lower quality compared to
the speeds? Well ISPs are forcing you down these selections at the start as
they don't want you hitting their networks as much. See bandwidth or
traffic shaping. The notion of "net neutrality" inaugurating "speed" lanes
is simply untrue; they have existed but of concern here is *paid
prioritization* or in some instances large ISPs having conglomerates
favouring their own content provider(s).

There are generally two solutions from the ISPs perspective:

(1). Make the end users have variable pricing for their "WI-FI" bills just
like you pay for what you consume with electricity & water, *which we(as
consumers) highly dislike* *for the internet* or,
(2). Have a fixed charge for your fixed data customers and make the content
and whoever will innovate high bandwidth products pay for the
spikes/elevated/bursts. They already have a relationship with their
customer and they can easily track their usages. They collect from their
customers and pay the ISPs who are presumed to have aggregates of bandwidth
overages for each content/high bandwidth pushing company.

No. 2 is what happens in bills for colocations and some hosting provider's
bandwidth/fibre. There is a committed and burstable data rate. This is the
classic 95th(95-5) percentile billing model.

An interesting read by Steven Levy: In the Plex HOW GOOGLE THINKS, WORKS
AND SHAPES OUR LIVES, PART FOUR: GOOGLE'S CLOUD chapter 2: "My Job was to
get in the car, get on a plane, go find data centers." accounts how #Google
in their earlier days squeezed terabytes of indexed data from west to east
coast colocation facilities in ~15 - 18 hour bursts per month. They then
literally turned off their router ports for 28-29 days per month and their
bandwidth costs would be zero!

I haven't touched on #Netflix's Open Connect, a caching solution installed
at an ISP's large router(s), as only *5% *of traffic is delivered through
it. However, the reporting is ~ 10 yrs old and would be happy to see newer
numbers. Also, there was a notable unfairness where #Netflix was paying and
setting up infrastructure at #Comcast but expected the opposite from small
ISPs.

Finally, I don't see how 5G will cool this problem as it occurs at the
exchanges and peering points.

Yours Kindly,
Adrian

On Tue, 12 Oct 2021 at 11:15, <kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Should streaming services pay ISPs for increased traffic?
>       (Josiah Mugambi)
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Josiah Mugambi <josiah.mugambi at gmail.com>
> To: "Kenya's premier ICT Policy engagement platform" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:13:57 +0300
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Should streaming services pay ISPs for increased
> traffic?
> Almost certain that Netflix content is mirrored in Korea given that:
> - Netflix hosts on AWS
> - AWS has availability zones
> <https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/regions_az/> in
> Seoul
>
> This
> <https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/30/south-korean-isp-sk-broadband-counterclaims-against-netflix-for-bandwidth-usage-fees/>
> is also interesting:
>
> "Meanwhile, another global streaming giant, Disney Plus, is set to launch
> in South Korea in November. Disney Plus reportedly plans to use third-party
> content delivery networks (CDNs) instead of using ISP’s networks to avoid
> the bandwidth usage fees."
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 1:27 PM Kathy Mwai via KICTANet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> I don't think that YouTube presents the same traffic problem to ISPs that
>> Netflix does. (By the way I'm an on and off Netflix subscriber so I haven't
>> particularly experienced any issues watching any big hyped shows like the
>> game of thrones or the Squid games at the moment) The nature of Netflix
>> content is similar to the movie theatres. When it's a blockbuster being
>> premiered like with the Bond movie this last week, the traffic to the movie
>> theaters is more as I experienced last weekend: But not when it's just
>> kawaida movies, and YouTube never churns out content in this fashion, so we
>> could remove them from the notorious list for now.
>>
>> That being said, if anything I think it should only be Netflix
>> incentivising a rounded up figure not the content providers and if it means
>> Netflix deducts a cost from the content providers to forward to the ISPs,
>> so be it I suppose? At the end of the day, content gets broadcast as that
>> is the intention. Perhaps I'm being naive in imagining a perfect world
>> where such good business practices exist, but what if really? Or maybe once
>> 5G becomes ubiquitous the conversation will change...
>>
>> On Mon, 11 Oct 2021 at 13:09, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> So, if Netflix, YT, and all the other content providers decide to
>>> incentivise, how will they measure how much the incentive has worked? And
>>> how much value do they get from their funds?
>>> Will the ISPs be incentivised based on the traffic volumes to the
>>> content providers or just a rounded up figure?
>>> Perhaps the best way out of this is for the ISPs to come together and
>>> ask the content providers to put their content infrastructure locally
>>> (mirror the content) so that their int'l bandwidth is left
>>> untouched???
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 12:58 PM Kathy Mwai via KICTANet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> This seems to me to be a Business Sustainability Strategy for Netflix,
>>>> because if users don't have a good experience with its content as a result
>>>> of slow speeds, will people want to keep subscribing for a service they
>>>> feel they may not get the full experience of? And I suppose envisaging this
>>>> situation could be the reason why they have different packages based on
>>>> your pipe output. Netflix and content providers obviously majorly depend on
>>>> ISPs for the success of their undertaking, and so I feel that it is good
>>>> business practice for Netflix to incentivise ISPs to enable them
>>>> upgrade their services. And that they should probably do that especially in
>>>> geographies where they have high subscriptions and not just in the US, and
>>>> to be proactive about it. This way everyone stays in business...
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 at 09:53, Ali Hussein via KICTANet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> @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 '^$|^.*#' :-)
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>>>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
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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.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *Dream and Your Dreams Will Fall Short <kathymwai at gmail.com>...*
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Best regards,
>>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>>> Nairobi,KE
>>> +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
>>> "Oh, the cruft.", egrep -v '^$|^.*#' :-)
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Dream and Your Dreams Will Fall Short <kathymwai at gmail.com>...*
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>>
>
>
> --
> Josiah Mugambi
> _______________________________________________
> KICTANet mailing list
> KICTANet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
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