Ranking ISP Performance No Simple Matter

By

According to Netflix data, cable modem services appear to be better than most telco digital subscriber line connections for supporting high-definition video streams. Ken Florance, director of Content Delivery at Netflix, says that since the top high-definition TV streams require about 4.8 Mbps, and since image quality is adjusted for bandwidth, sustainable bandwidth matters to Netflix.

Of course, those performance rankings probably are influenced by the actual peering relationships Netflix carrier Level 3 Communications has with various ISPs. It is no secret that cable companies peer with Level 3, in fact use its network, quite extensively, compared to telco-based ISPs. There are probably additional reasons, but the obvious driver is that cable operators are loathe to give money to backbone bandwidth providers such as AT&T or Verizon Communications, with whom they compete fiercely.

The possible implication of comparing end user experience across ISP domains is that it is quite likely performance will be better on networks with which an ISP directly peers, and from which an ISP buys backbone transport. 

It arguably also makes a difference whether an ISP uses a "content delivery network" for backbone traffic, all of the time, compared to application providers that do not. 

There also is an argument that advertised speeds and typical end user experiences do not match closely, in fact that experienced speeds might be as little as half of the headline speeds. 

Of course, other measurements indicate that actual experienced end user speeds are about 93 percent of advertised headline speeds, not "half," as some studies have indicated.


Gary Kim is a contributing editor for TechZone360. To read more of Gary’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Tammy Wolf
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

Contributing Editor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures for Modern Businesses

By: Contributing Writer    7/2/2025

Cyberattacks are rising, and businesses of all sizes feel the pressure. Small companies often think they're too small to be targets. They aren't. Hack…

Read More

Lessons Learned from Enterprise Oracle Cloud Migrations

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Switching to Oracle Cloud can feel daunting. Security risks, unexpected expenses, and performance troubles often turn what seems like an effortless up…

Read More

Protecting Business Assets with Smarter Security Frameworks

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Protecting your business is more challenging than ever. Cyber threats are increasing every day. Hackers target small and large businesses alike, searc…

Read More

Emerging Trends in Technology and Their Impact on Future Innovations

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Technology is changing faster than ever. Business owners often struggle to keep up. What's trending today might be outdated tomorrow. Falling behind c…

Read More

Tech Podcast Award Winners Bring Excitement and Enthusiasm to a Range of Important Tech Topics

By: TMCnet Staff    6/18/2025

Tech Podcast Award winners produce engaging, informative, and often entertaining content, bringing valuable insight from industry front lines to the e…

Read More