SuperSport streaming issues: DStv responds
DStv subscribers experiencing problems with streaming content from its websites should get in touch with their Internet Service Providers about the problem.
This is according to Mike Raath, CTO of the soon-to-be-renamed DStv Online, who explained how their streaming infrastructure operates.
“Firstly, I’d just like to clarify how the various parties are linked,” Raath said.
“SuperSport is the content owner, DStv Online handles the hosting and streaming of the SuperSport website, as well as other MultiChoice properties, and MWEB/Optinet runs the network on which the content is delivered,” Raath said.
DStv Online previously dismissed allegations that Mweb ADSL users were given preference during popular sports matches.
The allegations are based on user reports during or after big games where clients from various ISPs complain about poor SuperSport streaming quality.
Among the theories is that DStv’s servers can’t handle the load during big games, but Raath said that this is not the case.
“The fact that Mweb users tend not to have issues while other ISPs do indicates that the load on the streaming servers is perfectly within their capabilities, and points more to the routing that sits between the servers and the end-user,” Raath said.
“As stated before, we serve all traffic from our servers equally and we monitor our streams at all times,” he added.
Raath went on to outline some points in the route where problems could creep in:
- The in-home network;
- last mile network (copper to the DSLAM);
- backhaul from the DSLAM to the exchange;
- the IPC network which the ISP leases directly from Telkom;
- peering link between ISPs, or if there is no peering, the routing from the MWEB network where the stream originates.
This routing complexity can introduce latency, Raath said.
“There is an opportunity for congestion at any of these points and ISPs routinely overcome congestion through shaping and prioritisation, with the ISP deciding which traffic to prioritise,” Raath said.
He added that DStv Online serves its streams from one of the largest content delivery network (CDN) providers in the world, which Mweb has partnered with. They are also the only CDN with a streaming presence in South Africa, Raath said.
“One other aspect that can have an effect is where a user makes use of a DNS service that is hosted abroad – this can cause the user to do a domain lookup for the CDN streaming service and inadvertently be served from a foreign CDN edge, rather than those in SA which would obviously serve the user better,” Raath said.
He said that it should also be borne in mind that Windows updates and other large software drops are also delivered via CDNs, so it is possible that some ISPs would prioritise other traffic over this.
“From the forum I note that users feel there is a relationship between the SuperSport website and the streaming servers,” Raath said. “Please note that these are physically distinct from each other and website performance has no effect on stream buffering.”
Raath said that website and streaming services exist on different domains, physical servers, and networks.
“I would stress that users must get in touch with their ISP to investigate the root cause bearing in mind all the complexities above, and possibly even get their ISP to liaise directly with MWEB who can assist and advise those ISPs, with queries as they arise,” Raath said.
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