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Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

publicpolicy.verizon.com

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Re: Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

#32
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because your VPN providers are no doubt using a different transit provider than Netflix (Level 3) so your traffic is bypassing the congested peering points. The peering disputes are affecting not just Netflix traffic, but traffic between Verizon and any site using Level 3 for transit. (Not to take the blame away from Verizon. I'd love to see them try to use their logic to explain why other, non-Netflix service…

Isn't the Netflix-to-Verizon transit something that we already pay Verizon to maintain?

Yes, but Verizon also wants Netflix to pay them for that same transit.

That's what the whole blog article is about. Verizon trying to invent valid reasons for why they want Netflix to pay them.

Re: Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

#36
post #2

They can claim whatever they want, but when you tunnel Netflix traffic through a VPN so all the ISP see's is encrypted traffic and bandwidth issues disappear, it removes all mystery. I've tried several VPN's to test out my theory, and with each one, as soon as the ISP couldn't inspect traffic, all throttling seem to magically vanish. considering what we're paying for broadband, we should be getting what we pay for wi…

> I've tried several VPN's to test out my theory, and with each one, as soon as the ISP couldn't inspect traffic, all throttling seem to magically vanish. That's not inconsistent with Verizon's statement. Verizon is saying, "we won't accept more traffic directly from Netflix (via their transit providers) until we get more money!". By using a VPN, you're avoiding that direct connection, and traversing a less-loaded li…

Exactly. They took Netflix's bait with the "congestion" message. They're demonstrating that their network isn't congested and now we're closer to seeing that they really are attempting to charge multiple customers for the same traffic.

Re: Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

#37

Long story short, Level 3 won't pay us for peering agreements so it's their fault.

The most incredible part is that the facts and anecdotes presented so far don't agree with Verizon's tale, so instead of Verizon decided to respond with a fluffy PR piece instead of fixing the problem or countering with facts. Verizon seems completely unwilling to take any blame in this and does not seem to have their customer's best interest at heart.

There are no new facts in this article other than a useless infographic and repeated claims that Netflix is saturating their link with content Verizon customers are asking for.

Re: Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

#38

It's so strange, I live in Bolivia and Netflix never buffers for me at all. I have a laughable 200kbps real download speed (1768kbps plan) and I only wait for Netflix to load for about 2 seconds on my PS4 and off I go watching on 480SD quality. I would expect the US to be much much better.

you actually watch below 720p?

i'd switch back to downloads for HD before watching something with that resolution.

Re: Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth

#39
post #18

It's so strange, I live in Bolivia and Netflix never buffers for me at all. I have a laughable 200kbps real download speed (1768kbps plan) and I only wait for Netflix to load for about 2 seconds on my PS4 and off I go watching on 480SD quality. I would expect the US to be much much better.

No one in the US wants to watch 480 video.

Or can.

My 5mbps AT&T DSL struggles to load Hulu and Netflix on a daily basis, even at just 480p

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