Network Neutrality has fallen at the first hurdle in the UK, and this is not about traffic management.
The BBC has raised concerns after it learned that BT’s Total Broadband traffic management platform was being used to throttle the speed at which customers view web based video sites, such as its own iPlayer service and YouTube. Customers that take BT’s cheaper Option 1 deal will find their speeds to streaming video sites reduced to less than 1Mbps between the hours of 1700 and midnight.
UK ISP BT Broadband Restricts iPlayer and YouTube Speeds − ISPreview UK.
On the face of it you would think this is purely a commercial issue on the cheaper service, but those who have been watching the situation in the UK will understand this to be a direct response to the impact that BBC iPlayer is having on the ISP’s business model of overselling their bandwidth to multiple customers. The next step in this game in my view, would be BT re-opening the discussion about the BBC, and others, paying them to ensure that the lowest common denominator customer has a minimum bandwidth capability to watch their service.