ISP limiting data speed between peers P2P traffic restrictions imposed by service providers
ISP limiting data speed between peers P2P traffic restrictions imposed by service providers
I've been dealing with Xfinity's throttling, especially affecting my P2P connections whether I'm using a VPN or directly from the desktop. Swapping my modem for a third-party model helped a bit but not much. Right now I'm trying to update the Wargaming launcher—though it's only 81MB, the progress bar won't move. I checked the issue and it mentions P2P and my ISP as the cause. Since I can't turn off the feature until the launcher is updated, it makes me think about ways to improve my P2P performance overall. This problem has lingered for years.
The fix was removing the launcher and trying to download it again from wargaming.net. However, I couldn’t locate an option to disable P2P connections in the settings—they might have taken it out. This isn’t helping with installing the game. The main issue is that I rarely open the app, so frequent updates keep delaying play for weeks, and another update follows, then another long update again. It creates a never-ending loop. This isn’t an issue when I’m playing often, but during breaks it becomes tough to resume.
To have the ISP slow down P2P connections through a VPN, they’d need to limit the entire VPN connection. VPN data is encrypted and usually uses one port, making it hard for the ISP to tell P2P traffic apart from other data. Exceptions might occur with split tunneling or if the VPN client isn’t handling the traffic correctly, allowing direct outbound throttling by the ISP.
I understand BitTorrent can consume significant upload bandwidth, which Comcast restricts to protect its customers. There are also piracy concerns linked to P2P networks, as companies like Cox avoid legal trouble similar to what Cox faced. After the removal of federal net neutrality rules, they can operate with more freedom, unless you're in states that enforce their own net neutrality regulations.