[WXC/VFX] Free access to Local NZ video content

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand › [WXC/VFX] Free access to Local NZ video content

r33ks

74 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 22099 16-May-2008 15:35

Hi,

I can't see that this has been discussed already, but I am curious if WorldxChange have any plans to provide unmetered access to some of the new video offerings coming online from the likes of sky?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10507459

With the possibility services like Apple TV on the horizon, and rumors of VoD services from the likes of Video Ezy and Blockbuster, I would not expect that it will be long before an internet channel for the delivery of movies on demand is more common.

I am curious to know if WorldxChange is planning on peering with these providers to provide unmetered access to the content?

Thanks

jasperbg

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131320 16-May-2008 19:20

Providers of such content are likely to peer on a public peering exchange such as the APE, which WxC is already present on. Does anyone know if the free "local" traffic on WxC includes the peering exchanges they are present on? It ought to, since the cost of peering is so small.

Noodles

457 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

Reply # 131396 17-May-2008 09:43

The video downloads will be coming from Akamai, there are Akamai servers are WxC and the traffic from them is free.

jasperbg

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131397 17-May-2008 09:55

VoD will only come from Akamai if the provider of the VoD content pays Akamai to distribute it. In the case of local providers, they're more likely to just peer since Akamai is very expensive, and peering gets them free traffic to everyone except Telecom and TelstraClear. TVNZ On Demand is a good example of this.

TameIti

97 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131415 17-May-2008 11:59

Wait, so anything from the peering exchange is free traffic?

hpj2007

117 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131424 17-May-2008 13:31

No. Only stuff that is on the Xnet IP range is free. THe old free national plans had peered traffic as free.

jasperbg

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131432 17-May-2008 14:11

I meant that the traffic is effectively free for WxC, not necessarily for the customer.

TechnoGuy001

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

Reply # 131438 17-May-2008 14:52

jasperbg: I meant that the traffic is effectively free for WxC, not necessarily for the customer.

Oh dang, I was going to start using TVNZ On Demand if it does effect my data cap (thats the only resign I don't use it)

I don't see why NZ traffic is included in our data cap anyway, it doesn't cost the ISP anything so why should it cost us...?

adventdesigns

115 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131441 17-May-2008 15:06

Because ISP's are not charitys. they are in business for profit.

TameIti

97 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131442 17-May-2008 15:12

@ Gpforums I asked about the hosting of Sky On demand data. Was told it is hosted with Akamai.

Noodles

457 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

Reply # 131462 17-May-2008 16:41

It's mentioned here: http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/griffins-tech-blog/2008/5/2/sky-downloads-use-windows-drm-leave-out-macs/?c_id=5 that it's likely to choose Akamai. I'm guessing that it'll be cheaper for them to use Akamai for just NZ rather than globally.

jasperbg

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131465 17-May-2008 16:42

Sky On Demand probably is at Akamai. TVNZ On Demand isn't. Blockbuster/Video Ezy probably can't afford Akamai either, but I may be underestimating them there.

I can understand WxC billing national traffic to Telecom/TelstraClear-connected prefixes, but traffic across the APE/WIX etc (which makes up a fairly significant chunk of most people's national usage - for example Trade Me and Stuff are both accessible across one or both peering exchanges) could be heavily discounted or free without the ISP losing money, as they only have to pay for a connection, not for traffic, and the connection fees are very low.

hpj2007

117 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131532 17-May-2008 22:08

They had this with the old 2Meg plans. But few people ruined it for everyone by using a NZ DC++ hub and using a lot of bandwidth, i think a 500GB-few Terabytes were used by some of the users.

jasperbg

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131536 17-May-2008 23:10

As I mentioned before though, they don't get charged per-GB to access the APE, the WIX, or any peering exchange. You pay one price for 10Mbit, another for 100Mbit, or another for 1Gbit, and it doesn't matter how much traffic you use. Those prices are very low compared to the equivalent amounts of bandwidth from the likes of Telecom or TelstraClear.

A bunch of people clocking up 1TB per month of DC++ traffic only equates to 34GB a day in your average month, which works out to about 3Mbit across the whole month. WxC will have either 100Mbit or 1Gbit to the peering exchange, so 3Mbit really doesn't make all that much difference.

I'm sure they stopped giving free peering exchange traffic for a good commercial reason, but I'm also pretty sure it wasn't because a bunch of people "spoiled it" for everyone else. WxC isn't a commune, it's a business, and as such they probably just figured they could be charging for that traffic and making more money.

r33ks

74 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 131647 18-May-2008 20:47

I am glad a lively debate has started on this topic, however no word from WxC on this?