Relieving Peer-to-peer Pressure
As the music downloading frenzy continues unabated, Internet service providers (ISPs) are finding their infrastructure and business models imperiled. The main threat comes from the popularity of peer-to-peer programs such as Kazaa, which connect users without using a server. “Peer-to-peer activity corresponds to at least one fifth of Internet traffic and is likely to continue to grow relentlessly in the future” says University of California, Riverside researcher Thomas Karagiannis, who works with the Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis on measuring peer-to-peer traffic.
More traffic means a higher cost for the ISPs. Either they get the lines clogged lowering customer satisfaction, or they upgrade their networks with more bandwidth. This opens a golden business opportunity for companies that say they will ease traffic in a way that is cheaper than adding more bandwidth.
Deep Dive
Uncategorized
Our best illustrations of 2022
Our artists’ thought-provoking, playful creations bring our stories to life, often saying more with an image than words ever could.
How CRISPR is making farmed animals bigger, stronger, and healthier
These gene-edited fish, pigs, and other animals could soon be on the menu.
The Download: the Saudi sci-fi megacity, and sleeping babies’ brains
10 Breakthrough Technologies 2023
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.