ISPs Complain over the BBC iPlayer

With the BBC iPlayer becoming increasingly popular with web users, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are complaining that the strain placed upon the network is too great. The argument is that on demand television services are straining the networks so much that upgrades will have to be made in order to support the new technology. As always, the crux of the issue is cost, who will have to pay for these upgrades?

Ashley Highfield, the head of the BBC’s media and technology department is claiming that the costs should be incurred by the service providers and not the corporation. With an estimated cost of £830 million to increase the capacity of networks to allow for the increased downloads it is understandable that ISPs want the BBC to at least contribute to the upgrade.

The argument from the ISPs is that the BBC should add a premium to the license fee so consumers can pay for the upgrade. This will undoubtedly prove unpopular with the general public however; an issue that that the BBC is acutely aware of. The corporation is sticking to its guns stating that content providers should not have to incur the costs of any changes to the broadband network, adding a veiled threat that if ISPs begin to charge, it will be up to them to advise consumers on the ISPs that are the best.

The ISPs are naturally unhappy with this kind of inflammatory comment that is tantamount to blackmail. The increase in downloads may lead to ISPs restricting bandwidth for some who download large amounts of data. This creates a problem for ISPs who in the past have claimed their broadband packages are ‘unlimited’; it is now their duty to let consumers know that there will be a limit on the amount of video data that can be downloaded.

Calls have come from industry commentators for the government to step in and ease tensions between the sides. If the government fail to take some kind of proactive measure it is argued that a gridlock of the system could occur as soon as 2010. The BBC claims that their iPlayer is only impacting the network in a range of 3-5% and that growth should be manageable. Whether this is the case depends on what the ISPs will do about growth; evidently the internet is being used for purposes that at its inception were unclear, making provisions for these uses is essential to achieving a web that can expand and cope with the increased number of video downloads.

 Posted on: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:00 am
 News.
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