symmetric vs. asymmetric [was: Verizon Policy Statement on Net Neutrality]

Sat Feb 28 16:12:50 UTC 2015

On 02/28/2015 07:57 AM, Mike Hammett wrote:
> Over 95% of the people don't do anything of the sort (probably much
> closer to 100 than 95). The most common usage is tablets and phones
> going to Facebook, YouTube and Netflix. Regular consumers couldn't
> care less about anything else. If you think otherwise, you've
> (perhaps thankfully) spent too long away from your standard
> consumer).

Don't forget that Skype is becoming popular -- it's even on mainstream
TV, think _Big Bang Theory_.

Another class you are forgetting is telecommuters, who use VPNs to
connect to their main office from home (or hotel/motel rooms).

*  Internet Messaging
*  Tele-meeting (GoToMeeting, CUSeeMe, Skype conference calls)
*  Web-based activites (data lookup, forms)
*  Bulk data transfer, both upload and download, via VPN

Then there are the on-line gamers.  The size of that community is
suggested by the uproar that has occurred when Lizard Squid overloaded
the various gaming networks.

The usage patterns continue to change.  Remember that NetFlix streaming
is, in Internet years, still relatively new.  YouTube introduced its own
distortions into network usage that ISPs still battle.

I will grant you that, today, traffic is still asymmetric.  The ratio of
downstream/upstream is changing, as well as the total amount of traffic.
 Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  Developers are not sitting on
their tails...