Netflix ISP ratings

[Stanley]

Netflix is out with its speed rating for Internet Service Providers (ISP).

Here is the link to the website: USA's ISP Speed Index Results| Netflix ISP Speed Index

All of my local ones are in the bottom except for FIOS.

[marko]

Nice marketing strategy. Shame the slowpokes into getting enough speed so folks will be able to use your product.

"Oh! You want to watch Star Wars?? Better tell your provider to get on the stick"

[ERD50]

Interesting, but it would be a lot more useful if Netflix listed the speeds required for their various streams.

People will look at this and just think 'faster is better', when it's really a matter of, 'X Mbps is required, more doesn't matter'. Unless you are doing multiple streams, etc, but individuals could factor that in.

-ERD50

[bUU]

Part of the complexity there is that different service providers' systems work differently. Some provide dedicated bandwidth, so yes, once you have "enough" more doesn't matter. Others have equivocal service specifications (read the terms and conditions!), a reflection of the fact that bandwidth is to a great extent a shared resource, and higher levels of service simply grant you higher priority for the available bandwidth - they're quoting you "peak" bandwidth, not dedicated bandwidth. That model happens to be the one that is most efficient and therefore most common. It also means that if a stream needs "X" you may need service level "X*120%" or better during peak usage hours, in order to have a reliable stream.