Slow network, fast money: How Deutsche Telekom breaks the internet#

Thomas Lohninger (Netzbremse project)

• Why: Not a technical talk but a data-driven policy/peering analysis documenting how Deutsche Telekom's interconnection practices cause systematic congestion — affecting QoE for millions of German users. Signals where regulatory pressure on interconnection is heading and why QoE-driven peering arguments matter.
• What: The Netzbremse project documents that DT refuses to expand peering capacity appropriately, causing artificial throttling — with users and content providers paying at both ends to avoid congestion. Result: degraded video streaming, gaming, and conferencing quality, especially in the evening. An alliance of consumer protection, civil society, and research is taking action against this practice under EU net neutrality law.
• How: Methodology not detailed in the abstract — presumably measurement-based (QoE correlation with interconnection capacity). (from abstract only)
• Where applicable: Relevant to any peering/interconnection strategist in Europe, particularly regarding the tension between net neutrality regulation and commercial interconnection practices. German/EU-specific regulatory context.