Current Events > Comcast starts throttling mobile video and will charge extra for HD streams.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/07/comcast-starts-throttling-mobile-video-will-charge-extra-for-hd-streams/

Comcast's Xfinity Mobile service is imposing new speed limits on video watching and personal hotspot usage, and the company will start charging extra for high-definition video over the cellular network.

The short version is that videos will be throttled to 480p (DVD quality) on all Comcast mobile plans unless you pay extra, while Comcast's "unlimited" plan will limit mobile hotspot speeds to 600kbps. Only customers who pay by the gigabyte will get full-speed tethering, but the cost would add up quickly as Comcast charges $12 for each gigabyte.

Comcast last year began selling mobile plans with data, voice, and texting. Comcast doesn't operate its own cellular network, so it resells Verizon Wireless service.

The new speed limits could help Comcast save money on the reselling fees it pays Verizon. In a statement to Ars, Comcast said it's making the changes "to help us maintain the low price point of Xfinity Mobile." While Comcast doesn't control the Verizon network and thus can't impose speed limits directly, Comcast told Ars that Verizon offers resellers an option to limit video resolution.

Comcast said that 480p "is consistent with standard unlimited plans across carriers," and that it's making the changes to bring Comcast's offerings in line with the rest of the industry. Verizon began throttling mobile video to 480p or 720p on smartphones last year; the system limits the amount of bandwidth available to anything identified as a video. Carriers argue that many consumers can't tell the difference between 480p and higher quality on smartphone screens.

Customers get bad news in email
Comcast has been telling Xfinity Mobile customers about the changes in an email titled, "Update on cellular video resolution and personal hotspots." One Comcast customer forwarded the email to Ars, and there's also a Reddit thread discussing the email. All Xfinity Mobile customers are receiving this email, Comcast confirmed to Ars.

"To help you conserve data, we've established 480p as the standard resolution for streaming video through cellular data," Comcast told customers. For now, customers can contact Comcast for an "upgrade" to 720p video "on an interim basis at no charge."

But after the interim period is over, getting HD-quality video will cost extra. "Later this year, 720p video over cellular data will be available as a fee-based option with your service," Comcast told customers. Comcast hasn't mentioned any plans to make 1080p or any resolution higher than 720p available over cellular, and there's no word from Comcast yet on what enabling 720p video will cost. Comcast previously imposed no speed limits on video streaming on the Xfinity Mobile service.

"It's important to note that this change won't impact video resolution when using Wi-Fi, where customers will continue to be able to stream in HD," Comcast told Ars. Over Wi-Fi networks, including Comcast's public hotspots, video will play at whatever resolution is streamed by the video provider, a Comcast spokesperson told Ars. Nearly half of videos that stream on Comcast's mobile service play at 480p today, according to the company.

The Comcast email also directs customers to an FAQ describing the video changes.

according to the article, net neutrality rules may not have stopped this, however it's clear they are enacting it now because the lack of net neutrality leaves no possibility for this to be opposed.
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Comcast has a mobile service?
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"Net neutrality going away won't change anything!"
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Isn't throttling and overpriced service already a Comcast staple?
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Don't a lot of the MVNO services like Cricket already do this? I think cricket limits speeds in general up to 8Mb for it's unlimited plan. Not sure if they specifically limit video streams though.

But ya, I don't think this has to do with NN
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pogo_rabid posted...

Comcast has a mobile service?

No. They resell Verizon.

They're using Verizon's price structure - the one they've used for years - but because it's Comcast, it's GOTTA be because of Net Neutrality!
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B-but mobile internet doesn't count!

darkjedilink posted...

but because it's Comcast, it's GOTTA be because of Net Neutrality!

literally the first sentence in the OP is

dreamvoid posted...

according to the article, net neutrality rules may not have stopped this,

im offended by the lack of effort you put into trolling us now
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And it really sucks for people that live in regions where Comcast has a monopoly. I'm ashamed that evil company comes from my home town.
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This is why you go with Google Fi and call it a day.
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Giant_Aspirin posted...

darkjedilink posted...

but because it's Comcast, it's GOTTA be because of Net Neutrality!

literally the first sentence in the OP is

dreamvoid posted...

according to the article, net neutrality rules may not have stopped this,

im offended by the lack of effort you put into trolling us now

Oh?

Wariodorf posted...

hyperpsycho posted...

"Net neutrality going away won't change anything!"

Users in this thread are blaming NN going away.

I'm offended by the lack of effort you put into trolling us now.
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Southernfatman posted...

And it really sucks for people that live in regions where Comcast has a monopoly. I'm ashamed that evil company comes from my home town.

Where does Comcast have a monopoly on cell service via Verizon?
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shitty ISP resells shitty cell phone service, more at 11

dreamvoid posted...

net neutrality rules may not have stopped this

Mobile was always exempt from net neutrality so this would have happened regardless.
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