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Europe's Net Neutrality Doesn't Ban BitTorrent Throttling (torrentfreak.com)

Posted by msmash on from the torrent-of-hate dept.

Millions of Europeans will have to do with throttling on BitTorrent. The Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communication (BEREC) published its guidelines for Europe's net neutrality rules on Tuesday in which it hasn't challenged the BitTorrent throttling practices by many ISPs. TorrentFreak reports:Today, BEREC presented its final guidelines on the implementation of Europe's net neutrality rules. Compared to earlier drafts it includes several positive changes for those who value net neutrality. For example, while zero-rating isn't banned outright, internet providers are not allowed to offer a "sub Internet" service, where access to only part of the Internet is offered for 'free.' However, not all traffic is necessarily "neutral." ISPs are still allowed to throttle specific categories for "reasonable" network management purposes.

4 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. What's the complaint? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your BitTorrent packets have lower priority than most other traffic. That's objective fact.
    Net Neutrality has nothing to do with it. No one's treating the packets differently based on address.

    1. Re:What's the complaint? by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No reasonable definition of net neutrality makes QoS illegal.

      The fact on the ground is some packets do get priority.

      Do you even think it's reasonable to prioritize your torrent packets the same as your neighbors VOIP traffic?

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:What's the complaint? by shaitand · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Do you even think it's reasonable to prioritize your torrent packets the same as your neighbors VOIP traffic?"

      Absolutely. I think it's reasonable to prioritize MY voip traffic over my torrent traffic but I don't think it's reasonable to prioritize any of my neighbors traffic over any of my own. Some sort of equal token bucket system is most reasonable.

  2. Re:Government is not the answer. by emaname · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So let corporations be in control? I can't agree with that.

    Corporations have shown time and again they have NO interest in supplying good service at a reasonable cost to their customers. (Comcast and TW) They want to maximize profit. They will find every way possible to achieve that goal. History proves this. The recent recession is a great example of that behavior. Not to mention Enron and a lot more.

    Currently the ISPs have monopoly power. That's why I'm paying $85/mo for 20Mbps/2Mbps service. And it keeps going up because there is any competition.

    --
    An effective "democracy" creates the illusion the people have a say in their government.