Google today pledged not to create Internet fast lanes on Google Fiber, and backed Netflix's take on inter-connection deals.
In a blog post about how Google minimizes buffering on its gigabit Internet network, the company went into detail about why it does not charge for peering agreements like its ISP rivals Comcast and Verizon.
In order to avoid congestion, "we invite content providers to hook up their networks directly to ours," wrote Jeffrey Burgan, Google Fiber's director of Network Engineering. "This is called 'peering,' and it gives you a more direct connection to the content that you want."
Recently, Netflix has reluctantly signed peering agreements with Comcast and Verizon in order to speed up access to Netflix on those networks. Those deals require Netflix to pay for access to networks, something Netflix chief Reed Hastings believes ISPs should offer for free. Those ISPs, however, say Netflix cannot be expected to get a free ride on their networks and should pay their fare share.
Google said it worked with Netflix to co-locate the streaming service's servers in its Fiber facilities. "Because the servers are closer to where you live, your content will get to you faster and should be a higher quality," Burgan wrote.
"We give companies like Netflix and Akamai free access to space and power in our facilities and they provide their own content servers," he continued. "We don't make money from peering or colocation; since people usually only stream one video at a time, video traffic doesn't bog down or change the way we manage our network in any meaningful way — so why not help enable it?"
Ultimately, Burgan argued, Google doesn't charge for peering agreements "because it's really a win-win-win situation."
"It's good for content providers because they can deliver really high-quality streaming video to their customers," he wrote. "It's good for us because it saves us money (it's easier to transport video traffic from a local server than it is to transport it thousands of miles). But most importantly, we do this because it gives Fiber users the fastest, most direct route to their content. That way, you can access your favorite shows faster."
Meanwhile, Burgan stressed that Google Fiber does not and will not ink "deals to prioritize their video 'packets' over others or otherwise discriminate among Internet traffic," something that has made headlines as the FCC considers new net neutrality rules.
Of course, Google Fiber currently has a smaller footprint than Comcast or Verizon: it's in Kansas City and Provo now, and coming to Austin soon. But it's evaluating almost three dozen cities that could possibly get Google Fiber in the near future.