Press & PR

A new study has found that broadband users can benefit when internet service providers (ISPs) act in a transparent manner when handling internet traffic congestion.

Such areas are of particular concern among recent discussions of how users' ever-growing bandwidth requirements should be handled by governments and suppliers.

The report by the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies finds that when handling bandwidth management should look to address problems on a case-by-case basis, looking at how different services affect data traffic.

An alternative approach is a "bright line" regulation that sets out standardised rules for ISPs that dictate how networks should be managed.

However, as each ISP has a different user base, they each much adopt flexible network management to offer customers the best service.

"The policy goal should be to free consumers from internet slowdowns and disruptions caused by bandwidth hogs," the study finds.

UK regulator Ofcom has recently been given permission to relax the UK's current broadband regulations by the EU in a move that is hoped to encourage competition and better service.

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