Unlike Comcast, realizes that P2P is the future of media distribution and that it better figure out to make its network run more efficiently or risk falling behind.
Verizon Communications has announced that they will work to improve P2P file-sharing networks and traffic, to make things run more efficiently, and to eat up less of the broadband network.
They have released a new study that was headed up by researchers at Yale University.
At the upcoming Distributed Computing Industry Association’s P2P Market Conference in New York City, the Verizon group will present test results showing that when an ISP cooperates with a file-sharing software maker they can speed downloads an average of 60% — though collaboration boosted some downloads six-fold on fast Internet connections.
Verizon has stated that this new research will allow people on P2P networks to have faster downloads, uploads, and more while using less network bandwidth.
Verizon has been testing a software enhancement for P2P transfers. They worked on it with software developer Pando Networks.
"This test signifies a turning point in the history of peer-to-peer technology and ISPs," said Robert Levitan, chief executive of file-sharing company Pando Networks Inc. "It will definitely show ISPs that the problem is not peer-to-peer technology, the problem is how you deploy it. It is possible to deploy P2P to their advantage."
The study found that with the new software enhancement, they were able to cut down on how much stress P2P traffic put on Verizon’s network. It cut the load that P2P transfers put on the network by 50%.
It also found that 58% of the P2P traffic was local when used on the new software. This compared to only 6% on the old software. One of the problems for ISPs has been that file-sharing networks connect users more or less at random around the globe — so a U.S. file-sharer may simultaneously download files from Greece and Japan and upload to users in Belgium and Argentina. This long-distance carriage is expensive for ISPs.
Many, such as Comcast, have been fighting P2P due to complaints that it consumes an inordinate amount of bandwidth. But, Verizon, on the other hand differs on the point and wishes to remain "network neutral."
"Verizon does not accept the role of network police agency," the company said in a statement.
It seems though that Verizon is taking a different approach, embracing P2P, and instead just making it more efficient.
If you recall it was just over a month ago that Tom Tauke, executive vice president for public affairs, criticized Hollywood’s efforts to get ISPs like AT&T to begin identifying and preventing copyrighted material from being illegally shared on its network.
Verizon has acknowledged the fallacy of trying to monitor and police traffic on its broadband network, as well as the futility of even the most well financed efforts in doing so.
“We generally are reluctant to get into the business of examining content that flows across our networks and taking some action as a result of that content,” he said. “We don’t want to solve any network congestion issues by restricting the flow of certain kinds of traffic."
This new P2P development proves that Verizon is putting its money where its mouth is.
Now too bad Verizon doesn’t offer broadband connections in my area.
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