Peering Dispute: Verizon, NetForecast Say Netflix Network is the Congested One

Two new analyses -- one from Verizon and the other from Internet consulting firm NetForecast -- argue that Netflix’s reported network congestion problems are of its own making.

What isn’t clear is to what extent Netflix is using companies like Level3 to deliver traffic. Netflix has touted the superior performance it gets from direct connections – and if Netflix has such connections with Verizon as has been reported, why is it still using Level3 and Cogent? Is it simply a matter of companies like Level3 offering a more economical means of delivering traffic? Is Netflix simply trying to make Verizon look bad in an effort to negotiate a better deal with the company or to persuade regulators to impose interconnection requirements such as those that Level 3 suggested recently?