On Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 09:01:58PM -0700, George Bonser wrote:
But there is a potential problem here in that content providers are producing applications and content requiring increasing amounts of bandwidth but are not bearing the cost of delivering that content to the end user.
Yes they are -- content providers aren't getting their connections to the Internet for free (and if they are, how can I get me some of that?).
If the ISPs are directly peering with the content provider at some IX, the content provider gets what amounts to a free ride to the end user.
Say wha? ISPs don't *have* to peer at an IX; if they think that it's cheaper to buy transit from someone than it is to peer, they're more than capable of doing so.
They then release a new version of something that uses more bandwidth (say, going to HD video and then maybe 3D HD at some point) which puts pressure on the ISPs network resources. Do you then increase prices to the consumer in a highly competitive market and run the risk of driving your customers away, do you absorb the cost of required upgrades and run at a loss for a while only to see the applications increase in bandwidth requirements again?
The customer's requesting this traffic, therefore the customer needs a bigger pipe, therefore the customer pays more.
Do you try to get the content provider to pay for some of the "shipping" cost?
Why? It was your customer who requested the traffic be delivered to them. - Matt