[AusNOG] News: Telstra to clamp down on peer-to-peer

[Skeeve Stevens]

>From the SMH @
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/telstra-to-clamp-down-on-peertopeer-20130205-2dvus.html

---

Telstra is planning to slow the speed at which its customers download
content through peer-to-peer (P2P)
networks<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer> in
peak periods as part of a trial.

P2P networks are commonly used to download pirated material such as movies,
music and video games.


Telstra confirmed the move in a statement after a source contacted Fairfax
Media, publisher of this article, to say the telco planned to introduce
throttling as a "trial" that was likely to become permanent and which
required users to opt out if they didn't want to take part in it.


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The trial could begin as soon as this week, the source added.


The Telstra statement said it would be conducting a "limited trial of a
range of technical options for better managing broadband internet
performance for our customers during peak periods".


One option being looked at was the shaping of specific services, including
some peer-to-peer services, in certain circumstances and at certain times.
The telco could shape such services using deep packet
inspection<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_packet_inspection> (DPI)
technology, which can identify the types of network traffic flowing through
a network and prioritise it accordingly.


"Once the trial is complete we will consider the results as part of our
future network planning and product development activities," the company
said.


"The trial does not involve any monitoring or tracking of the sites
customers visit and the findings we gather, including their feedback, are
being collected in accordance with our privacy statement," Telstra said.


Critics of ISPs that interfere with P2P say it has many uses that aren't
illegal, such as downloading large files, and that it shouldn't be
interfered with. But most acknowledge it is used for sharing
copyright-protected material


Telstra's plan to shape peer-to-peer network traffic was first mooted by
the industry publication *RCR Wireless* in May 2011, when Telstra executive
director Michael Lawrey threatened in a
speech<http://www.rcrwireless.com/unplugged/index.php/20110523/carriers/9137/telstra-proudly-declares-intent-to-cut-off-bandwidth-hogs/>
in
Dublin to cut off "downloaders of illegal content", whom he reportedly
blamed for network congestion.


The *RCR Wireless* article no longer appears online but Mr Lawrey's quotes
remain on the Australian technology news website *iTnews*, which repeated
them<http://www.itnews.com.au/News/258515,telstra-aims-throttling-at-its-hungriest-customers.aspx>
.

*RCR Wireless* quoted Mr Lawrey as saying Telstra would also take action
against customers believed to be abusing the carrier's fair-use policies.


"We probably haven't even used our fair use small print yet. But we will,"
Mr Lawrey reportedly said.


He was also reported to have said that if the carrier's proposed system
"cut out 80 per cent of the non-value adding traffic – good".


According to the *RCR Wireless* article, about 80 per cent of Telstra's
data was chewed up by high bandwidth users.


"I'd rather not have those 80 per cent as customers. I'd rather someone
else had them as customers," Mr Lawrey reportedly said.


He did not say whether he was talking about fixed-line, smartphone
customers or both.


Exetel, a smaller ISP than Telstra, used to
throttle<http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/exetel_faq_prioritize>,
or "deprioritise", peer-to-peer traffic during peak periods. Its terms and
conditions say it can still do so but a staff member last year said on its
forum that it did not
shape<https://forum.exetel.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=284&t=39103> "any
type of traffic".


Illegal downloading via BitTorrent networks has been in slight decline for
some time<http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/game-of-thrones-crowned-king-of-downloads-20121224-2buay.html>,
though reports suggest there was a small rise in 2012. In part that would
be fuelled by faster internet services worldwide and a migration away from
traditional television in which some consumers now exclusively watch TV
content via the internet.


Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/telstra-to-clamp-down-on-peertopeer-20130205-2dvus.html#ixzz2K09ebWjy


---

...Skeeve

*Skeeve Stevens - *eintellego Networks Pty Ltd
skeeve at eintellegonetworks.com ; www.eintellegonetworks.com

Phone: 1300 239 038; Cell +61 (0)414 753 383 ; skype://skeeve

facebook.com/eintellegonetworks ;  <http://twitter.com/networkceoau>
linkedin.com/in/skeeve

twitter.com/networkceoau ; blog: www.network-ceo.net




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