Telco 2.0: BBC’s iPlayer nukes “all you can eat” ISP business model

A very good analysis of bandwidth cost issues caused by the newly relaunched BBC iPlayer: Telco 2.0: BBC’s iPlayer nukes “all you can eat” ISP business model.

"The UK’s largest broadcaster finally launched its online video streaming and download service on Christmas Day. Plusnet, a small ISP owned by BT,  has provided a preliminary analysis of the traffic and the results should send shivers down the spine of any ISP currently offering an unlimited “all-you-eat” service..."

Comments

[ig.nacio]

Hi. This is precisely why -even though I share most of your views- I believe flat-fee is not sustainable, not only for music but for the whole ISP package.

I learned when working at ISPs that the main cost is bandwidth and that usage varies greatly from user to user. You don't want a model were a lot of users will subsidize the use of a small amount of heavy users, if only because it will be unpopular. Of course, there are better reasons.

[Gerd Leonhard]

yes but here is the point: precisely because of the fact that the users would have flat-rated anytime anything access they would download LESS not more -- there would be no reason to 'get all while you can' or 'hoard' content while some other node is providing it. The Flat rate would thus decrease bandwidth costs --- and also substitute streaming for downloading (access!!) and then, of course, allow p2p system to be used, as well. Think Skype Music Flat Rate ;)