If your ISP is Verizon, Comcast, AT&T or Clearwire, you may have some of the worst Netflix streaming speeds around. Netflix traffic now occupies 30% of all internet traffic during primetime hours, so it's no wonder there's an issue, but it's not as simple as demand.
The Good:
With Netflix coming back strong from the Qwikster misstep, cranking out good original shows and Disney deals for the kids, it's no wonder they're occupying the lion's share of evening internet traffic.
The Bad:
Great for Netflix subscribers, not beneficial at all for ISPs who sell ads and also pay for content to rebroadcast. The amount of data flowing into their networks is unbalanced with Cogent, the Tier 1 bandwidth provider that delivers Netflix to broadband networks like Comcast.
The Ugly:
Netflix struck a deal with Comcast on February 24th, 2014 that gives them a "fast lane", benefiting Netflix and Comcast customers. Other popular streaming providers are left without a resolution to the problem. Net Neutrality is put at risk; the equation is unbalanced. Pay more and get preferential treatment. A fast lane for some, a slow lane for those that can't afford to pay the price demanded. Not the free and open internet we've come to love.
A Fix:
Turns out, there's a relatively simple and inexpensive fix that will avoid all the high-level fighting over peering agreements I'm almost certain most of you don't care about. You just want to watch Netflix, YouTube and other streaming services without buffering or a low quality picture right?
Use a VPN:
By connecting through a VPN or Virtual Private Network, you bypass the normal peering routes so your video streams fast and with higher quality. The second benefit is that because your internet connection through your ISP is encrypted with a VPN, your ISP only sees data flowing. The automatic throttling of streaming traffic they claim they aren't doing is defeated, and you have a private connection to the internet.
But setting up a VPN on every device and remembering to activate it is a hassle that no one really wants. Besides, some VPN providers don't support multiple connections at once, but they do support connection to their service by a customized router. Setting up a router to do the VPN connection for you gets around multi-user limitations. The router makes a single connection and shares it with you over WiFi and Ethernet, just like you're used to with your ISP modem/router. To help you, I've written an easy to follow, step-by-step guide so you can convert an inexpensive router into a round-the-clock VPN connection in your home. Want it done for you? Get in touch with me.
Have questions about peering problems, setting up a VPN router or having it done for you?
Get in touch with me, leave me a comment or send me a tweet @dougkrug.
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