BT has been accused of slowing down its internet connection
in the evenings when users try to watch or downalod TV programmes
using the BBC iPlayer.
The
BBC has
spoken to a viewer who complained that his internet access
bandwidth speed dropped to 2Mbps after 5pm.
This is not the first time BT has come under pressure for
throttling bandwidth. Users of peer-to-peer download sites have
previously
complained on bulletin boards that the network bandwidth they
get from BT is far less than it should be.
Streaming multimedia applications like the iPlayer, YouTube and
music download sites like Apple's iTunes and Amazon are increasing
the pressure on internet bandwidth. According to a
dblog produced by ISP PlusNet,
"One thing we have noticed is that the mean usage is on the way
up and in particular the type of usage is streaming and it is being
used more in an evening."
ISPs often use
packet shaping appliances to optimise network traffic.