Large-Scale "Internet Rationing" Possible, Experts Warn

Netflix app downloads have exploded across Europe over the last several weeks as "Netflix and chill" "Netflix and quarantine" has been all the rage during countrywide lockdowns in Italy, France, Spain, and the UK.

We noted last Thursday that Netflix had to reduce traffic to its European networks by 25% for 30 days to preserve internet functionality as streaming traffic surged among tens of millions of people in quarantine.

Days after Netflix pledged to reduce streaming traffic, experts are saying that European countries could start rolling out large-scale "internet rationing" to prioritize critical apps and websites.

"If we end up in a situation where worldwide, 850m children start to receive lessons virtually for an extended period of time, then networks might want to start prioritizing video traffic over gaming traffic," said Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly, who spoke with The Telegraph.

British internet provider BT Group said their communication network could handle the extreme levels of data of millions surfing the internet while in quarantine. But they warned that video streaming services could start bogging down the system and leave critical networks, reserved for emergency services, exposed to slow speeds.

Besides Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are other streaming services limiting ultra-high definition videos to European users to preserve the functionality of the internet.

The French and UK governments have reportedly asked Disney to suspend the launch of its new streaming service in both countries on March 24.

The relevance of 5G is higher speed in the wireless part of a communication. Data rates over fiber are in multi-gigabytes per second and such rates are valuable as you get further into the backbone. Most individual users will be in heaven with an 8 megabyte stream which would deliver the highest video resolution available.

Over-the-air communication is always going to be slower wire (fiber) communication because a given fiber is shielded from other transmissions.

Well yea, but I don't see how this is such a major game-changer. From a business/industrial standpoint, you're going to be running wired connections for anything high-speed, and probably wanting wired as well for large parts of your system, with the inherent security over a freefloating wireless network. Businesses without those concerns likely don't actually need 5G capability. For individuals, unless 5G is the same price as 4G, what do you really need it for? Even gaming doesn't really need it, and neither does streaming unless you have 4k/8k content or several people using it. But again, most real gamers will have their tower wired to the router. Likewise for many people's cable boxen.

Yes, the backbone/infrastructure is fiber because of the required speed/bandwidth, but like you also say, 5G isn't really part of that. It's not that valuable to the ISPs/IXPs, unless they plan to start installing/charging for wide-area wifi networks? How would that work competing directly with cell companies?

“I don’t see how this is such a major game-changer”

I agree with all that you say. Why 5G then? I’m no expert. Those investing in 5G must know.

Maybe the 5g investors envision everything — refrigerators, baby strollers, home security, cars, lawnmowers ... networked. In other words, the number of devices is destined to increase manyfold and all of their locations can be determined without the use of GPS. If so, what a world!

I’ve said before that it’s great for big brother because with cell towers (small ones) sprouting up like grass, the location of a device can be determined more precisely. It will allow more devices per square mile to communicate at higher speeds.

Yea, I didn't even think of that. Definitely an 'advantage' of the system. For the po-po anyway.

Maybe the 5g investors envision everything — refrigerators, baby strollers, home security, cars, lawnmowers ... networked. In other words, the number of devices is destined to increase manyfold and all of their locations can be determined without the use of GPS. If so, what a world!

Many in the tech world see this happening. The "Internet of Things" is the next big thing - and it's stupid. I really hate all this extra crap in every gadget and gizmo. Some of it is cool/convenient, but most of it is just useless extra parts that make it break easier. And, of course, make your home a lot less secure. I don't see much position data on household appliances, they'll only be connecting to one device, yours. Cellular location is not that accurate as it is, going to 5G will improve it but not to the degree that it's comparable to GPS.
My damn truck ('07) already has too much extra stuff like the stupid Secondary Air Induction System. My rental Titan from a year ago had nearly 20 (yes, twenty) buttons on the steering wheel!

If I ever win the lottery, I'm starting a company that makes simple, basic stuff that's reliable and easy for Dad to work on/fix. Your truck's gonna have a radio and maybe power windows. And the base model won't cost $40,000+.

Go buy “commercial” pick up trucks. They are stripped of all the luxury stuff.

They are white. Or grey.

Your local dealer will piggyback you on a company’s order. Might take a few weeks to get them.

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