Reality Check

The BBC’s tech reporter writes that BBC and ISPs clash over iPlayer

A row about who should pay for extra network costs incurred by the iPlayer has broken out between internet service providers (ISPs) and the BBC.

ISPs say the on-demand TV service is putting strain on their networks, which need to be upgraded to cope.

Ashley Highfield, head of future media and technology at the corporation, has said he believes the cost of network upgrades should be carried by ISPs.

Simon Gunter, from ISP Tiscali, said the BBC should contribute to the cost.

He said the BBC did not understand the issues involved.

iPlayer allows people to watch BBC shows they’ve missed over the ‘Net. This is legal, high-bandwidth usage, and the ISPs aren’t prepared for it. They have promised people high-speed access and unlimited usage to sign them up, and are now faced with the problem that their customers are being unreasonable and expecting to actually be able to have high-speed access and unlimited usage. Faced with the prospect and expense of providing customers with what they told them they already had, the ISPs are looking at severely reduced profits, so they are trying to shift the blame and expense.

Some services, like Netflix are advertising watching and/or delivering movies over the ‘Net. It would be an exercise in frustration to sign up for this, because your ISP is almost guaranteed to interrupt the download, unless you do it at about 2AM. I know your cable company or phone company told you it was possible and even had animated ads to show you how easy it would be. They are the cable company and the phone company – they lied. Look at the fine print in your contract at the local electron microscope site and you will find the appropriate clause written in carbon atoms that defines “unlimited” as a set number. Exceed the magic number and no more ‘Tubes for you until some stated period of time has passed [check for nitrogen atoms, they are often used to record this period].

This is what ‘Net Neutrality is all about and why the telecoms don’t like it. They want someone else to pay their expenses, and allow them to make even bigger bucks.