Bell Canada will throttle back on its Internet throttling practices.
ISPs like Bell have long said some types of online traffic, like multi-player gaming or P2P downloads, can strain their Internet capacities. They often implement a controversial shaping or throttling process to manage their networks.
Critics say the process can unfairly slow or target certain types of media content and online delivery systems.
Now, in a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission from officials at Bell Canada and Bell Aliant, the companies say they will stop implementing the traffic shaping practice next March.
The companies note that significant investment in their networks now allows them to discontinue the practice, known as Internet Traffic Management Practice (ITMP).
"With the increasing popularity of streamed video and other traffic, P2P file sharing, as a proportion of total traffic, has been diminishing. This is not to say that it no longer has an impact on network congestion," says the letter, released to the media.
"Nevertheless, and in light of the extensive investments the Companies have made in additional network capacity, and given economic ITMPs in the marketplace, the Companies will withdraw the shaping of P2P traffic on the Companies' networks, with regards to both retail and wholesale traffic, effective 1 March 2012."
Public advocacy group OpenMedia.ca cited the operational reversal and praised the decision. The group has long argued against Internet traffic gatekeeping, and it has backed online petitions that criticize the practice.
The CRTC has introduced a new way for large telephone and cable companies to charge independent Internet service providers (ISPs) for the use of their networks and a way to loosen bandwidth restrictions and management requirements.
The CRTC does not regulate rates or set bandwidth caps for retail Internet customers. To encourage greater competition, the CRTC requires that large telephone and cable companies sell access to their networks to independent ISPs, under specific terms and conditions. Canadians can then choose between multiple ISPs.
Under the CRTC's new capacity-based approach, large telephone and cable companies will sell wholesale bandwidth to independent ISPs on a monthly basis. Independent ISPs will have to determine in advance the amount they need to serve their retail customers and then manage network capacity until they are able to purchase more. Alternatively, large companies can continue to charge independent ISPs a flat monthly fee for wholesale access, regardless of how much bandwidth their customers use. Both billing options give independent ISPs the ability to design service plans and charge their own customers as they see fit.
For more Mediacaster Magazine coverage related to this topic, please see:
CRTC Ruling a 'Step Forward' - OpenMedia
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/crtc-ruling-a-step-forward-openmedia/1000702544/
CRTC Says New Wholesale Billing Supports Choice of Internet Services
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/crtc-says-new-wholesale-billing-supports-choice-of-internet-services/1000702194/
Net Neutrality Coalition Cites Internet Horror Story
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/net-neutrality-coalition-cites-internet-horror-story/1000390766/
Content Business Can Suffer Under Internet Throttling
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/content-business-can-suffer-under-internet-throttling/1000333592/