Internet Traffic Management Policies

Why?

Bell argues the use of P2P software is causing congestion in their networks, affecting the performance of real-time applications such as web browsing, streaming video, and direct downloads.

Who is affected?

Customers served through wholesale arrangements with Bell Canada will be subject to their traffic management policies which include the application specific rate limiting of certain non-time sensitive peer to peer file sharing applications during peak usage hours. Where technology permits, customers served directly by MNSi's equipment are not subject to Bell Canada's traffic management policies.

When does the traffic management occur

According to Bell: "Customers may experience extended download and upload times when using P2P file sharing applications during the daily scheduled traffic management period which is currently scheduled from 4:30 pm to 2:00 am EST for Bell Internet DSL. The current upload/download rate speeds only for P2P file-sharing usage are gradually decreased at the beginning of the peak period (from full speed down to 512 kbps at 4:30 p.m. and then down to 256 kbps at 6:00 p.m.) and then gradually increased towards the end of the peak period (up from 256 kbps to 512 kbps at 1:00 a.m. and then up to full speed at 2:00 a.m.)."

What type of traffic is subject to management

Peer-2-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, such as Bittorrent. These applications are considered less time-sensitive than video streaming or direct file transfers.

There is no monitoring of actual data content. Bell uses a technology called Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to find encrypted torrent-like traffic.

How the ITMP will affect a user's Internet experience, including the specific impact on speeds

Customers served through wholesale arrangements with Bell Canada will be subject to their traffic management policies which include the application specific rate limiting of certain non-time sensitive peer to peer file sharing applications during peak usage hours. Where technology permits, customers served directly by MNSi's equipment are not subject to Bell Canada's traffic management policies.