BBC says it can counter web-throttling by ISPs

The BBC has issued a veiled threat to Internet service providers not to degrade the quality of its iPlayer service, following a clear signal from the government that it will give network owners more leeway to favour some online services over others.

Speaking at a Financial Times conference, Erik Huggers, BBC director of future media and technology, said his team was developing software that would warn broadband users if their ISP was degrading the quality of their iPlayer using a red, amber and green system. He said the system would be rolled out only if it became necessary to allow "consumers to see that their ISP is behaving appropriately". He said it was "highly unlikely" the BBC would agree to pay more to ISPs to guarantee the quality of its video service. The prominence of its services would give the BBC sufficient influence to keep ISPs in line, he said, though companies offering weaker online services would have to rely on vaguer assurances from the government designed to prevent discrimination.