Project 6 -- Symmetrical Speed
From Mike's working wiki
Our Revised Draft
The Task Force determined that a symmetrical service option (equal upload and download speed) should be available to all consumers who require it, especially small businesses. This need not be mandated for all consumers as it may not be required by everyone. Indeed some consumers might well prefer service offerings that provide slower upload speed in order to deliver faster download speed or a lower price.
Report Snippets
Symmetrical - Uploading data as well as downloading data need to be considered as an important value. The internet was built to allow for two way communications and has turned into downloading being weighted heavier than uploading. We do not place enough of a value on the business that is creating the data that we are downloading. When this data is being created or shipped it is being uploaded. There are a growing number of applications which require a symmetric connection in order for the product to work correctly. A growth market such as video applications, require faster symmetrical bandwidth. We cannot afford to stifle innovation, product quality and ability to get product to market because our upload speeds are far slower than our download speeds. Value- Based on the trends of video, data creation and the opportunity for business growth and communication we should value symmetrical connections. <Disagree – Sjoberg> A 10% discrepancy between the upload and download speeds should be the maximum difference. <end Disagree – Sjoberg> Video growth creates a clear need for symmetrical internet connectivity. Swanson
Providers are transitioning to a protocol that will increase their ability to provide more symmetrical upstream and downstream speeds, a key component as user-generated content increases. Garrison
Broadband networks must be designed to provide symmetric service (equal download and upload speeds) in order support the full potential of many of the growing applications that will enhance the lives of Minnesota citizens, such as home telehealth, telecommuting, and home-based businesses. Cawley
The standards of speed for broadband access must first rest on symmetrical upload and download rates. This technical definition implies that our networks must make it as easy to produce content as it is to consume it. The standard of speed in networks should weight the upload speed over the download speed to ensure participation. O'Connor
Backing up personal files to a remote computer over the Internet provides profound advantages to consumers and businesses. As hard drives continue to expand, the volume of backed-up data is exploding. Symmetrical ultra high speed broadband is the only practical way to enable this capability. O'Connor
A major driver of bandwidth and speed will result from data and computing power moving to remote cloud-computing services such as those provided by Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc. This application, like remote-backup, will demand more symmetrical broadband speeds as once again "consumers" become "producers" on the Internet. O'Connor
Starting point
The Task Force discussed the concept of symmetrical service; throughput is equal in both directions so data flowing to the network (upload) from your computer and from the network (download) to your computer are the same speed. It was determined that symmetrical service should be available, but not be mandated as it is not needed by everyone. Symmetrical networks are technically different than asymmetrical and the cost to provide symmetrical service is more.
