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Content Connect is a service provided by BT Wholesale in
2011. The service is offered to Internet Service Providers
in the UK, who pay to use BT's telephony network. The basic
gist of the service, is that it will allow ISPs to charge
an additional fee to heavy bandwidth users such as video content
providers (Youtube, BBC iPlayer).
Content Connnect has caused quite a stir, with many onlookers
believing it could destroy Net Neutrality. The principle behind
Net Neutrality is that no ISP, Wholesale Provider or Government
should provide a restriction on user's ability to access the
content existing on the Internet.
Content Connect would appear to counter against the principle
of Net Neutrality. Instead of user's being able to access
whatever content they wish, regardless of size or cost, ISPs
may dictate which content they provide, due to Content Connect
filtering which Internet companies wish to pay ISPs for delivering
their high speed gaming/video content.
BT have argued that Content Connect will not effect Net Neutrality.
Instead, it will allow ISPs to strike commercial deals which
can prioritize selected content providers.
The underlying issue is that video content has been providing
a huge strain on networks around the globe, and especially
in the United Kingdom. The explosive growth in the use of
the Internet has led to many network providers playing catch
up in infrastructure improvement and expansion.
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