Poor Network Connectivity Chokes Off Lifeblood of the Internet

The main complaint leveled at Internet service providers (ISPs) is that their connections are slow. Not all of this slowdown is caused by providers dragging their heels when it comes to putting new infrastructure in place — interconnectedness plays a large role. A report from MeasurementLab.net, an Internet performance research firm, examines how the connections between networks are essential, yet growing more congested every year.

These connection points are simply physical connections between ISPs. However, “The traffic that flows through interconnections is the lifeblood of the Internet — nearly all of the value of the Internet comes from the exchange of traffic across networks, even when the ISPs involved are fierce competitors,” the report reads.

Measurement Lab was able to detect significant slowdown at these connection points, but one of the report’s major findings is that the problem isn’t because the infrastructure itself is poor.