Verizon Wireless States Policy on Network Management

Verizon Wireless is implementing two new network management practices: bandwidth throttling and content compression optimization. The announcement comes as the company begins enrolling iPhone customers for the first time.


In a statement posted online, Verizon Wireless states that it may implement bandwidth controls for the top 5% of bandwidth users during peak periods. Specifically, for these heavy users, Verizon Wireless may reduce data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of the current and subsequent billing cycle. The company said it is doing this to protect the remaining 95% of customer from the excesses of the top 5%.


Regarding video compression and optimization, Verizon Wireless is implementing a process that is agnostic to the content itself and the website that provides it. All Web content files delivered over Port 80, regardless of source and including content from Verizon Wireless, is directed to the optimization process. Text files are compressed and cached for subsequent requests. Image files (PNG, JPG, GIF) are compressed to remove colors and details not visible to human eye or to end users on a mobile device. These images files will also be cached. Video files for progressive downloading will be transcoded to H.264, unless the mobile device requesting the file cannot decode H.264. The optimization will also use variable bit rate (VBR) for transmission. The video files will also be cached for a finite time or until the cache is full. Verizon Wireless is using a Video Quality Measurement (VQM) tool to set and monitor the amount of reduction in the transcoding.
http://www.verizonwireless.comhttp://support.vzw.com/terms/network_optimization.html