Orcon & Steam

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Orcon & Steam

Cyris

121 posts

Master Geek

#78717 6-Mar-2011 22:28

Hey guys.

This issue has been bugging me for a while now, But don't you find it unfair how most of the world gets uncapped internet, or free data on services we love the most.

One of the main reasons I'm posting this is to find out if anyone knows any information if Orcon will be adding the gaming client "Steam" to their Ozone list (Ozone: Lists of websites with free data usage, ie. iSKY)

There's so much content I would love to buy on Steam, but then always think "Urgh, but then I would have to download it too, and use most of my cap" Which immidiently changes my mind about purchasing anything off steam.

I did contact Orcon via Twitter, and they recommended me to email setthissitefree@orcon.net.nz and suggest Steam to them so maybe in the near future they would add it, but I'm thinking they are going to need quite a few email suggestions with Steam before they even think about adding it.

So if you use steam, and have Orcon as an ISP, why not flick an email to that address suggesting free data on Steam downloads?

Already Free Websites - http://www.orcon.net.nz/lifestyle/page/free_data_for_orcon_broadband_customers/

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#446138 6-Mar-2011 22:53

To be honest, the "O Zone" hasn't been updated in a veeeeeeeery long time. Why, it still offers free data traffic to the "We're Closing up Shop in July 2009" page on gamers.net.nz.

Lord forbid I have to pay for a few KB to a farewall page!

quentinreade

351 posts

Ultimate Geek

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2degrees

#446183 7-Mar-2011 09:03

Hi all,
We are set to add new sites to Ozone soon.
At this stage, they will be NZ-based sites (so Cyrus, sorry, no Steam).
The whole reason we can zero-rate NZ-sites is that we don't have to pay for international traffic. As such, it's unlikely that we will zero-rate offshore sites (but never say never).
@Kyanar: We have been updating. We added iSKY in January. We just haven't been deleting.
Thanks!

Comms chap

2degrees

arthurhh

99 posts

Master Geek

#446197 7-Mar-2011 09:36

quentinreade: Hi all,
Snipped
@Kyanar: We have been updating. We added iSKY in January. We just haven't been deleting.
Thanks!

Well that is all good, iSky TVNZ on demand great free traffic but it is no good if your Orcon Max MAx connection is only delivering Dial Up speed at the times you want to use those services.

gehenna

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#446235 7-Mar-2011 11:42

quentinreade:
we don't have to pay for international traffic.

Oops, Freudian slip...? If not, zero-rate the world!!!!! :)

Cyris

121 posts

Master Geek

#446252 7-Mar-2011 12:44

After doing some research, There are actually New Zealand based Steam Servers, so technically if I set my settings in Steam to download from New Zealand, it would be local/national traffic right?

Slingshot has their own Steam server and is free data towards their customers, so has XNET and Recoil.

The ONLY problem I see is if the content you want to download is not on the local server, Steam would redirect you to download from Australia. Which is a very slim chance.

Orcon should really have a look into this as it would benefit them greatly, I've never had a problem with Orcon, they are a great ISP with great speeds, now we just need a good "connection" with Steam.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#446279 7-Mar-2011 13:13

AFAIk both those servers are for exclusive access to those ISPs customers only. i.e. Orcon could not direct you to the Slingshot server even if they wanted to.

Cyris

121 posts

Master Geek

#446291 7-Mar-2011 13:27

Yes but Orcon could take note on how this was achieved and do the same, I mean come on.... surely if Slingshot can do it then Orcon could too easily...

Invest in a server for Steam, they are already winning over alot of people because of their great uptime and speeds, now why not seal the deal with a great Steam agreement and rake in all the gamers who only use the other ISP's because of the free steam content.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

gehenna

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#446300 7-Mar-2011 13:46

Even then your Steam content will only be free for the things hosted on the NZ server. If it's a new game that hasn't been downloaded to NZ before and you're the first, then you're still getting it from an overseas server prior to it being cached here.

plas

455 posts

Ultimate Geek

#446342 7-Mar-2011 15:58

Would be nice to get a Steam server going and decent traffic speeds in the daytime/evenings. 1am-10am is great but the rest of the day is pretty average.

Zeon

3918 posts

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#446368 7-Mar-2011 17:01

Xnet use Orcon's Youtube cache, maybe you could setup up a reverse deal where Orcon uses Xnet's cache?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

Ragnor

8223 posts

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#446447 7-Mar-2011 21:06

quentinreade: Hi all,
We are set to add new sites to Ozone soon.
At this stage, they will be NZ-based sites (so Cyrus, sorry, no Steam).
The whole reason we can zero-rate NZ-sites is that we don't have to pay for international traffic. As such, it's unlikely that we will zero-rate offshore sites (but never say never).
@Kyanar: We have been updating. We added iSKY in January. We just haven't been deleting.
Thanks!

You have akamai and google caches, given the popularity of steam running a Orcon hosted content mirror for Orcon customers would be viable

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3326-TDKV-4603

After initial population of content, it will likely save you money/international bandwidth!

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
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#446473 7-Mar-2011 22:07

Hi Ragnor

Its something we are looking at. Currently Steam Content comes from Limelight, who we peer with in Sydney so we get very good performance.

Zeon

3918 posts

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#446484 7-Mar-2011 23:16

Are you able to provide some details on Odyssey by any chance? I hear it spoken about and peering at various places (such as Equinix LA) but no details?

I know ICONZ have just connected to Vocus' Pacific IX and they are now offering free traffic across Pacific IX the same as national (ie free for colo or other customers who get free national). Maybe Orcon could do the same if its cheaper than Odyssey and I'm sure Limelight wouldn't hesitate on peering at it either.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

Cyris

121 posts

Master Geek

#446496 8-Mar-2011 00:08

If only there was some kind of Agreement by Steam to give like eg.10% of every game purchase to Orcon for hosting and offering free download/data to Orcon customers...That would be a pretty good deal.

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
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#446515 8-Mar-2011 07:57

I know ICONZ have just connected to Vocus' Pacific IX and they are now offering free traffic across Pacific IX the same as national (ie free for colo or other customers who get free national). Maybe Orcon could do the same if its cheaper than Odyssey and I'm sure Limelight wouldn't hesitate on peering at it either.

At this stage, we have no intentions of joining Pacific IX. Currently we have an STM16 (2.5Gig) over to Sydney to pick up peering points and content provider traffic. We believe its of better benefit for our customers than using the PacificIX.

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