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I think we're muddying the waters here if we equate mobile ISPs with cable ISPs like Comcast. Comcast would like nothing more than charge people more for using

I think we're muddying the waters here if we equate mobile ISPs with cable ISPs like Comcast. Comcast would like nothing more than charge people more for using Netflix, because it's causing large load on their last mile connections that they have hopelessly oversubscribed while promising ever higher bandwidth. Netflix will peer and install cache appliances, but they aren't going to dig up the trenches in Kentucky to beef up the cable connections and backbones. As such, everything that will make Netflix perform better on Comcasts network will just lead to more Netflix use and more load on their last mile. Meanwhile, they can't sell people a Binge-On because who the hell wants to watch Netflix at sub-DVD bitrates at home?

saurik 11y ago
Charging someone more for using Netflix happens automatically if you charge per byte, which is effectively the only viable end game in a world with network neutrality. Networks are only able to provide even sort of "infinite" bandwidth for finite cost due to largely ignoring the principal of network neutrality. (BTW, I watch Netflix over Verizon and AT&T mobile networks quite often and the quality is fine: we must live in very different quality network areas.)
- maccam94 11y ago
  There's a time factor involved as well though. A byte is cheaper to transmit at 7am than at 7pm (less congestion). Business ISP's often charge based on the 95th-percentile bandwidth rate during the billing cycle: http://www.semaphore.com/blog/94-95th-percentile-bandwidth-metering-explained-and-analyzed http://www.semaphore.com/blog/94-95th-percentile-bandwidth-m...
cpeterso 11y ago
Traffic inspection shenanigans like Binge On are yet another reason why services like Netflix are moving to HTTPS.