{"id":101416,"date":"2014-05-08T14:24:29","date_gmt":"2014-05-08T12:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=101416"},"modified":"2014-05-08T14:25:46","modified_gmt":"2014-05-08T12:25:46","slug":"internet-traffic-shaping-prioritisation-in-sa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/internet\/101416-internet-traffic-shaping-prioritisation-in-sa.html","title":{"rendered":"Internet traffic shaping, prioritisation in SA"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States\u2019 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed new rules which allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to prioritise traffic based on payments from content players like Google<\/a>, Netflix<\/a> and Disney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This decision paves the way for content of paying companies to be delivered at much higher quality levels than content from non-paying companies.<\/p>\n

These new rules deal a significant blow to Net Neutrality, which calls for all traffic types on the Internet to be treated equally.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, traffic prioritisation is nothing new. Since the launch of ADSL, traffic shaping has been implemented, with unshaped data accounts available at a higher price.<\/p>\n

In the past, South African consumers had to pay more for unshaped data and therefore better service levels on some traffic.<\/p>\n

The new FCC model places pressure on companies to pay for prioritised traffic to ensure better service levels to consumers who use their products.<\/p>\n

This system creates a new revenue stream to ISPs, where content providers basically help to fund networks.<\/p>\n

Net Neutrality in South Africa<\/h3>\n

This raises the question whether such a model will be supported in South Africa. Are ISPs in favour of net neutrality, or are they keen to charge content providers for prioritized traffic?<\/p>\n

Vodacom<\/a> said that there is \u201ccertainly an argument to be made that customers should be free to choose whether they want to benefit from specialised services that mitigate against congestion\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs it stands, traffic management is commonly used by networks to protect service quality,\u201d said Vodacom.<\/p>\n

Neotel<\/a>\u2019s Abid Qadiri<\/a> said that the company supports net neutrality \u201cto the extent that the definition is limited to freedom and right of content and access to everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we believe that because of differentiated services, different pricing structures are needed, as all applications on the internet are not created equal,\u201d said Qadiri.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach have different demands from the internet and if users want a certain level of experience, differentiated pricing is required. Unlike voice networks, where there is only one application, the internet, with its varying applications, cannot be compared as one to one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qadiri added that Neotel does not shape traffic and it does not block content as it believes it is not the role of an ISP to police or monitor traffic \u2013 subject the legal requirements to do so under applicable law.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we do support that, on a highway, anyone has access to the lanes, but if someone wants a faster highway, with less on ramps and exits, then a toll for that is not unusual anywhere in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Other companies which were asked for comment about their views on net neutrality include:<\/p>\n