Traffic Management, Net Neutrality, Internet Congestion

1. THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
From an internet initially based on static information, with
very low data traffic and a limited user base, surfing the
web became just one option within a myriad of new oppor-
tunities. The number of users has increased beyond every
prediction as have the number and variety of possible ser-
vices. The result is a global tsunami of data traffic generated
and delivered every second of every day.
17 500
0
35 000
52 500
70 000
Petabytes*
* A unit of computer memory or data storage capacity equal to 1,024 terabytes
Source: CISCO, Virtual Network Index
Billion
1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
0.75
1.5
2.25
3
17 500
0
35 000
52 500
70 000
Petabytes*
* A unit of computer memory or data storage capacity equal to 1,024 terabytes
Source: CISCO, Virtual Network Index
Source: CISCO, Virtual Network Index
Billion
1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
0
0.75
1.5
2.25
3
The vital role played by the internet in our daily lives is
well recognised. Its impact is felt at every level, be it social,
political or economic. And the vast majority of what the
internet has brought us has been to our enormous bene-
fit. It has enriched our lives in ways that the early internet
visionaries could never have predicted.
Global Increase in Internet UsersGlobal Growth in Data Traffic
1

2. THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
Amount of data
Very
time sensitive
Not
time sensitive
Video
streaming
Online
gaming
VoIP
call
Online
shopping
Email
services
Data Consumption vs. Time Sensitivity
As the above graphic shows, the issue isn’t just about sheer
volume. The internet is also highly interactive today, which
brings with it a new dimension of time sensitivity. Time
sensitive services are more and more the norm, and time
sensitive data cannot be handled in the same way as other
traffic on the internet. As a consequence, the internet eco-
system continually needs to evolve to accommodate and
facilitate these new service requirements.
2

3. The name internet stands for“Interconnected Network”.
That’s what the internet is: a huge network of networks
with millions of computers and devices interconnected and
sharing content.
Each and every service using the internet as its delivery
platform follows the same fundamental rules which have
underpinned internet delivery from the beginning.
There are two concepts underpinning the functioning of
today’s internet: protocols and packets. Protocols work as
the agreed language that every device connected to the
internet uses to communicate and be understood. The most
commonly used protocol is the TCP-IP (Transfer Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol).
HOW DOES THE INTERNET WORK?
Transfer Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
1 2
www.cable-europe.eu
End User’s
Internet
Service
Provider Website
Hosting
Service
Provider
Domain
Name
Server
The Common Language of Computers
Example: End user journey to Cable Europe’s website
3 After the ISP gets this numeric address, a new request is sent to
a router that can reach Cable Europe’s website hosting service
provider.
4 After receiving this request, Cable Europe’s server sends the
content to the user.
This process takes around one second in real time.
1 The user types cable-europe.eu on the web browser. By pressing
enter, the user launches a highly complex process of information
exchange.
2 The ISP sends this request to a domain server that translates the
web address into an IP address using a predetermined format
of numbers, eg. http://www.cable-europe.eu is translated into
http://85.255.199.51
THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
Transfer Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
1 2
www.cable-europe.eu
End User’s
Internet
Service
Provider Website
Hosting
Service
Provider
Domain
Name
Server
The Common Language of Computers
Example: End user journey to Cable Europe’s website
1
2
3
4
3

4. D A
T A
D A
D A T A
End user ServerInternet nodesInternet
Service
Provider
Internet
Service
Provider
D
A
T
A
D A T A
D A
T A
D A T A D A T A
Sender RecepientInternet nodesInternet
Service
Provider
Internet
Service
Provider
D A T A
D
A
T
A
The Journey of Data
Because sending all the information contained in a given
communication simultaneously could slow down delivery,
internet engineers created what is called packet switch-
ing, which is the dividing of all data which is sent over
the internet into small packets. This efficient process sends
each packet of a given data file such as an email or a video
individually through the internet, allowing them to travel at
high speed and then regrouping them at the destination.
Of course, this is only possible due to the classification
method that identifies each packet individually as part of
the original data file sent.
These two systems of protocols and packets are crucial to
the functioning of today’s internet – and vital to the contin-
ued growth of ever more innovative services.
THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
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5. Over time, many services which were previously delivered
over distinct platforms have migrated to the internet. One of
the many examples of this migration is the TV Everywhere
concept, through which consumers enjoy not only an ever
growing variety of content but also the convenience of
viewing their preferred programming wherever there is an
internet connection. So, the internet of today has flourished
into a multiuse platform where a huge variety of profes-
sional and recreational content is created and shared. In
this context, and bearing in mind the complexity of time
and volume sensitivities set out above, we can immediately
understand that the demands upon the network in order to
deliver reliable services are growing exponentially. We can
THE ROLE OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENTConnection OK
Connection KO
• Good streaming
• Quick navigation
• High definition
• Stream not loading
• Slow navigation
• Pixellation occurs
• Quick navigation
• Good connections
• Real time action
• Slow navigation
• Unstable connection
• Gameplay freezes
• No noise
• Good quality
• No delay
• Noisy
• Broken conversations
• Delay
• Quick navigation
• Good shopping
experience
• Happy customers
• Swift reception of mails • Mails may be delayed
• Slow navigation
• Unpleasant shopping
experience
• Disatisfied customers
The Role of Traffic Management in Quality of Service
illustrate the role played by traffic management by using the
five examples of different service types referred to above,
ie video streaming, online gaming,VoIP call, online shopping
and email services.
In all of these examples, traffic management is needed to
varying degrees to overcome problems such as congestion
and packet loss – both of which have an immediate impact
on the end user. For example, during peak usage times
traffic management can ensure that data packets which
are time sensitive (voice call or a video) are prioritised over
data packets that are less time sensitive (an email or web
browsing).
THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
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6. The internet has had an extraordinary evolution to date,
and is still a very dynamic environment. Many new, innova-
tive services and applications will unquestionably emerge
in the future. Some services will require an end to end qual-
ity that an internet connection of today – when it is subject
to only very limited traffic management measures – will not
be able to deliver. Services which have great potential
– online high definition video conferencing or telemedicine –
will not fulfil customers’expectations because the quality
is not sufficient. End to end quality can be assured if these
services, which are known as specialised services, are
subject to specific /continuous traffic management. Traffic
management in this case responds to the individual cus-
tomer’s specific needs and can be applied by ISPs or at the
request of a third party such as a web service provider.
The ingredients for the onward development towards as yet
undreamed of uses for the internet are there: the technolo-
gy is in place, the consumer appetite undiminished, and the
commercial and creative innovators know no bounds.
Alongside the ongoing upgrade and innovation within the
networks sits the parallel requirement of smart, transparent
and appropriate management of traffic. These are crucial
keys in continuing to unlock the future potential of the
World Wide Web.
How internet savvy are you? Here’s our quick guide.
What you might think the internet is
End user Content
Provider
Internet BackboneInternet
Service
Provider
What the internet really is
A
B
End user
Content
Provider
Internet Backbone
Internet
Service
Provider
Local copy
in Cache Server
1
2
What you might think the internet is
End user Content
Provider
Internet BackboneInternet
Service
Provider
What the internet really is
A
B
A
B
End user
Content
Provider
Internet Backbone
Internet
Service
Provider
Local copy
in Cache Server
Direct Peering
1
2
3
THE ROLE OF SPECIALISED SERVICES
THE INTERNET OF THE FUTURE
AND FINALLY
Avenue des Arts, 41 • 1040 Brussels, Belgium • T: +32 2 521 17 63 • F: +32 2 521 79 76
E: info@cable-europe.eu • www.cable-europe.eu
• A represents the section of the data journey where the ISPs apply traffic management
This is sometimes referred to as the“ISP leg”or the“last mile”
• B represents the wider internet ecosystem
• 1, 2 and 3 are alternative data routes, deployed by content providers
THE INTERNET AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
A CABLE EUROPE FACTSHEET
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