YouTube mad at T-Mobile for throttling video traffic

YouTube is accusing the T-Mobile US of throttling or degrading video traffic with its latest Binge On video program, the Wall Street Journal reported, saying the news comes as federal regulators examine the carrier’s streaming-video strategy.

Binge On is active by default for all T-Mobile customers, and must be manually turned off. If a T-Mobile customer opts out of Binge On, all video will count against their data plan. But Google (Alphabet) has complained to the Wall Street Journal (registration required) that YouTube traffic is being throttled whether or not users opt into the program: YouTube which is owned by Alphabet Inc., said T-Mobile is effectively throttling, or degrading, its traffic.

Some advocates have feared that T-Mobile’s Binge On service circumvent net neutrality rules, although the carrier claims that its offering is in line with the regulations. First, Binge On reduces the quality of all streaming video, regardless of whether it’s coming from a video service that’s a partner or not.

T-Mobile’s Binge On feature includes more than 20 streaming services, all of which are limited to 480p resolution when the feature is enabled. “Reducing data charges can be good for users, but it doesn’t justify throttling all video services, especially without explicit user consent”, a YouTube spokesman said.

While the highlight feature of Binge On is its free video streaming from 24 video services, it also optimizes video from other services to help users save data. The beauty of a network that is simply a series of “dumb pipes” is that it will give you the content that you request without prioritizing it or any other content – it’s a simple transaction of requesting and receiving. However, now it sounds like getting YouTube into Binge On may be harder.

T-Mobile declined to address YouTube’s complaints. For now, if you want to turn off Binge On, you can find it under the media settings in your T-Mobile profile.

T-Mobile has yet to comment on the situation but knowing Legere, it won’t be that long before he’ll offer some pithy Tweet countering YouTube’s accusations. “However, a reasonably designed zero-rating program does not include the throttling of traffic for services or consumers that do not participate”.