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Google Rates ISPs by YouTube Performance

TMCnet Feature

January 23, 2014

Google Rates ISPs by YouTube Performance

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By David Delony
Contributing Writer

Google has started using a clever way to gauge the quality of ISPs using YouTube (News - Alert), according to IT World.


With Google’s Video Quality Report, the company breaks the throughput of broadband providers into three categories: “HD Verified,” “Standard Definition” and “Lower Definition.”

Google (News - Alert) defines “HD Verified” as any connection able to handle video of 720p (720 horizontal lines of resolution in progressive scan) or higher with fast loading times at least 90 percent of the time. Most connections with 2.5 mbps would qualify. Google defines standard resolution at 360p.

The massive popularity of YouTube also allows Google to track a lot of data on their customers’ performance, aggregating users from a geographical area instead of just single households.

Large services like YouTube are a statistician’s dream. Unlike traditional measures like Nielsen ratings, Google has precise data on how their users are watching video and how well their networks can handle it, rather than having to estimate based on smaller sample sizes.

Google said on its Video Quality Report website that it chooses what it thinks is the most direct route from its data center to the user. Network congestion at any point can degrade the video experience with constant rebuffering.

Now that a federal court has nullified most of the FCC’s (News - Alert) net neutrality rules, ISPs are free to shape traffic to suit their desires. They could charge more for streaming video use or block YouTube entirely.

Google wants as little friction between them and their users as possible. That’s why Google has been investing in Google Fiber, to give users an almost unlimited experience with video.

True to “Hanlon’s Razor” any network problems are probably due more to stupidity (misconfiguration, inadequate traffic planning) rather than malice at this point.

Google is initially deploying its network measuring tools in Canada, with other places to follow. YouTube users might take comfort in that they’re not wasting time watching cat videos but helping to improve network speeds.




Edited by Cassandra Tucker


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