Netflix Streaming Problems Associated With ISPs, Particularly Verizon


NetflixBinge watching your favorite show sure is a large benefit of Netflix, but when there is lag and spinning wheels of waiting time, things get frustrating. Whether or not you have noticed, the streaming service has been slowing in speed since last October. Netflix has since confirmed providers, such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T, and Verizon, have seen a 14% average fall in the last month. Even those with super fast internet speeds are experiencing delay, and a downgrade in video quality. The video slowdown is due to an underlying feud between Netflix and corresponding ISPs, Verizon in particular. When you stream a video through Netflix, the video has a lot of bandwidth traveling to do before it gets to your TV. Because of the high traffic demand Netflix has, as well as their recent 1080p HD expansion, someone has to carry the cost of all this traffic. Although ISPs will not admit to reasons for the slowdown, they are upset about the increased cost of delivering to subscribers and are demanding more money from Netflix in order to supplement its heavy usage. Netflix is the single largest user of internet bandwidth, with Youtube in second place.

Netflix1Verizon, one of the country's largest ISPs, is specifically denying any claims of extracting fees from Netflix for itself, something that has placed the company in the spotlight this week. Accusations of Verizon “outright throttling Netflix” would mean it treats streaming movies different than other services, such as articles, once it hits Verizon's network. Of course other ISPs could be doing the same thing, but there is just no way of knowing. Despite this uncertainty, it does appear Verizon has found “other ways” to slow down Netflix traffic under its net neutrality commitment. Additionally, both Netflix and Cogent Communications say “Verizon is purposefully keeping some of its portals shut and delaying equipment upgrades to degrade Netflix streaming”. To no surprise, Verizon is reporting that it treats all internet traffic the same, Netflix is hogging bandwidth, and should pay for dumping so much data on Verizon.

Netflix2It's like a punching match, back-and-forth; and most of this slowdown started about the same time Netflix's super HD streaming did. Doesn't that mean it built up the distribution network? Should Netflix supply towards the heavier demand or should fellow ISPs, like Verizon, pay to hook up directly with their networks? It all sounds like a bunch of bullying towards Netflix to me; bullying that isn't doing anything to fix the problem. Instead, these streaming issues proceed to plague viewers, some even claiming to even have “unwatchable” quality. A possible solution for speeding up video is by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. These alter the IP address that is assigned to your computer, also allowing you to access content from outside the country. The way a VPN would help, which has been confirmed by several viewers, is by bypassing congested servers and links for that faster connection. It isn't a guaranteed fix, simply a resource.

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