Flash Networks Study Reveals Net Neutrality is Dead
Over 70% of respondents think operators should be allowed to prioritize premium content for faster delivery
London, July 09, 2014 – Flash Networks, the global leader in mobile Internet optimization and monetization, announced today that 69% of operators and, more surprisingly, 74% of respondents who were not operators (subscribers) think that mobile operators should be allowed to offer a fast lane connection to premium content providers. Flash Networks’ annual LTE survey conducted at LTE World Summit polled both subscribers and mobile operators to uncover quality of experience trends.
Flash Networks’ survey also revealed that although 84% of subscribers believe that operators are responsible for video stalls and buffers, only 63% of operators claim responsibility for an unsatisfactory quality of experience. However, 80% of operators already optimize or plan to optimize video and data to adapt to network conditions. These responses suggest that while operators are reluctant to admit responsibility, they recognize that video quality is vital to customer satisfaction.
Compared with last year’s survey, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of operators who felt that their network was “Super fast – 20Mpbs download throughput” (48% in 2013 versus 31% in 2014), leading 75% of operators this year to report that they already accelerate or plan to implement an acceleration solution within the next year. These results reflect both a higher bar for 4G network speeds and operators’ concerns about their ability to provide their users with the best possible quality of experience while managing the rapid increase in mobile data traffic.
Furthermore, 58% of subscribers revealed that speed is a deciding factor in choosing an LTE network, second only to coverage, and not surprisingly, 97% think operators should invest in accelerating LTE networks.
“Subscribers are demanding a superior quality of experience (QoE) and hold the operator responsible for it; but, at the same time, they are giving operators the green light to do what needs to be done to improve QoE by approving of fast lanes for premium content,” said Eyal Hilzenrat, Vice President of Product and Marketing at Flash Networks. “Our survey results demonstrate that operators recognize the need for mobile video and data optimization to stay competitive, and are continuously looking for acceleration technologies to enable them to speed up their LTE networks, and ultimately provide a better experience for subscribers.”
About Flash Networks
Flash Networks, the leading provider of mobile Internet optimization and monetization solutions, enables operators to boost network speed, optimize video and web traffic, and generate over-the-top revenues from the mobile Internet. Sitting at the core of the network, Flash Networks’ Harmony Mobile Internet Services Gateway accelerates LTE networks by 50% and reduces web and video traffic data by 30%, while providing operators with in-depth traffic analytics and user insights. In addition, with Harmony, operators can engage with their subscribers by offering an enhanced browsing experience while generating revenues from search, over-the-top content, and targeted advertising.
With offices in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Flash Networks services over 600 million subscribers daily and is proud to count among its customers top-tier mobile carriers including Orange, Verizon Wireless, SingTel Group, MTS, T-Mobile, South Korea Telecom, and Telekom Austria Group. For more information, visit www.flashnetworks.com.
