ISPs vs BBC iPlayer – Missing the point?
Jun 25, 2009 Featured, Net Neutrality, Wholesale, iPlayer
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The last month has seen substantial media coverage of the latest row that has erupted between BT Retail and a number of content providers including the BBC. However, we think a fundamental issue is being missed. Instead of BT Retail focusing attention on the BBC et al to contribute to its increasing costs, it should instead be tackling its wholesale provider to reduce the price of bandwidth. Here I explain why this has a wider significance to ISPs and the industry as a whole.
June 2009 proved to be a turbulent month for two of the UK’s industry giants, BT and the BBC. The month began with reports that BT was throttling its option 1 customers’ connections to the BBC’s iPlayer service (and other bandwidth hungry services including YouTube) during peak times, reducing speeds to less than 1Mbps on the advertised up to 8Mbps service. This, according to the BBC, notably affected the iPlayer’s service quality.
Neil Watson, Technical Support Manager
- BBC: BT accused of iPlayer throttling
- BBC: iPlayer: BBC v BT
- ISPreview.co.uk: UK ISP BT Broadband Restricts iPlayer and YouTube Speeds
The argument escalated when the BBC claimed that BT’s advertising of its option 1 package shied away from detailing this level of throttling. Instead it states that the package is capable of 25 hours of iPlayer streaming and only refers to the throttling in its FUP.
By mid June the plot thickened with a request from BT for content providers to pay towards the cost of delivering customers to their sites, claiming that the “free ride for content providers was over”.
“We can’t give the content providers a completely free ride and continue to give customers the [service] they want at the price they expect,” said John Petter, managing director of BT Retail’s consumer business.
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Loading ...USC: Solving the digital divide?
Jun 17, 2009 Copyright, Digital Divide, Featured, iPlayer
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Updated 26th August 2009:
It seems the government has proposed a controversial amendment to the Digital Britain report. The disconnection of illegal file sharers was originally ruled out in favour of warnings and technical measures but it now appears to be back on the agenda. You can read more about this here:
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The Digital Britain final report has now been released by Lord Carter and outlines Government’s plans to introduce a new Universal Services Commitment (USC) ensuring 100% UK broadband coverage with speeds of at least 2Mbps by 2012. The existing USC which applies only to BT and Kcom will be replaced and the burden will be shared by the industry as a whole.
Darren Farnden, Marketing Manager
- Digital Britain: Final Report June 2009 (PDF)
- Digital Britain: Impact Assessment June 2009 (PDF)
The long awaited report confirms the ongoing speculation of the 2Mbps USC and confirms that this will be achieved by a number of technologies including home wiring improvements, Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) and mobile and satellite solutions to reach the most remote areas. Over recent months there has been mounting speculation as to how this expected USC would be achieved and funded. Possibly the most shocking outcome of the report is the news that public funding will be used to find the most cost effective technology to bring 2Mbps broadband to the UK’s ‘not-spots’.
- The Register: UK to rely on mobile operators for universal broadband
- Thinkbroadband.com: Budget announces 2Mbps USO but who pays?
- The Register: Darling supports broadband by raiding Granny’s digital fund
- Thinkbroadband.com: Lord Carter backs mobile and satellite for rural areas
We’re pleased to see that Government recognises the importance of improving customer experience to all areas of the UK. However, if customers in more rural areas are to actually enjoy the same level of service as those in urban areas then achieving 2Mbps really must be viewed as the first stepping stone. Lord Carter clearly concurs with this view, stating his reasoning for the 2Mbps limit is based on “current consumer expectations, the growing importance of video and increasing multiple use in the home.” He continues “At 2Mbps, all homes should be able to fully benefit from the most basic range of applications, services and opportunities offered by broadband.”
Tags: Digital Britain, Digital Divide, Ofcom, USC
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Janet achieves greatness along the Wall of China
Jun 11, 2009 Entagroup
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In April we publicised Entagroup’s sponsorship of Janet Poole as she embarked on a gruelling 10 day challenge across the route of the Great Wall in China. Trekking with 50 other walkers in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Janet faced some personal challenges including leaving behind her husband and four children and also a fear of heights. We caught up with her once she’d returned, eager to hear her experiences and congratulate her on her achievement.
(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...ISP – Internet Service Provider or Police?
Jun 1, 2009 Featured, Privacy, Security
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While the protection of children from inappropriate content when they are online has been a key focus for many for some time, bullying tactics increasingly used by pupils against their teachers online is leading to claims that ISP’s should be responsible for policing Internet use.
Darren Farnden, Marketing Manager
The recent announcement by the UK government that it is planning to crack down on online defamation is the result of mounting pressure from teachers about the growing tendency for children to use the Internet to attack them. This is undoubtedly a serious problem. We have heard of cases where students have set up facebook sites in their teachers’ names with the sole purpose of providing a platform for defamation of character and where pupils and even parents have discussed teachers in a derogatory nature online.
- vnunet.com: Straw plans crackdown on internet libel
- Teachingexpertise.com: Cyber-bullying of teachers
Such incidences show just how easy it is now for children to start using the Internet as a way of abusing teachers. A recent survey suggests as many as one in ten teachers have fallen victim to cyberbullying.
- The Guardian: Cyber-bullying ‘affects 1 in 10 teachers‘
This of course is not just a problem in education – it is a massive issue in business as well. There have been many documented cases of email bullying and libellous statements being made via emails and IM. With the use of ‘social’ networking sites such as twitter also growing in business the prospect of individuals spreading inaccurate or malicious material about their competitors is very real.
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