Internet experts have expressed concerns about the growing use of peer-to-peer (P2P) technology to download media services over the web.
Services such as Sky’s broadband video download offering work on the basis that content is stored on customers’ PCs and uploaded to new users using P2P software, rather than delivering it directly from central servers.
Similar services in the US have resulted in ISPs threatening to charge content providers for use of bandwidth.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the web, warned against the creation of such a ‘two-tier’ internet in a speech at the WWW2006 conference in Edinburgh last week.
Malcolm Hutty, head of public policy at the London Internet Exchange, says bandwidth ownership could become as controversial in the UK as in the US.
‘ISPs are concerned that content providers are getting free bandwidth access without paying for it,’ he said.
‘The content providers’ view is that customers pay for the bandwidth and can use it to move content if they like.’
Ovum analyst Jonathan Arber says there are also concerns that users could face additional costs if they have download and upload limits.
‘There has been some criticism because many users do not realise Sky is uploading from their PC for the benefit of other users,’ he said. ‘Not everyone reads the fine print.
Steve Nuttall, Sky’s director of business development, says the company makes users aware of how P2P works during the installation process. He says the Kontiki technology, delivered by Ioko, is also used by other content providers, including the BBC.
‘Sky by Broadband is designed to give users an improved experience and deliver content faster,’ he said. ‘It does not affect general usage as the Kontiki platform operates on a low priority.’
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