The reason it works is because telecom providers use DNS-based throttling instead of deep packet inspection to selectively limit bandwidth to video sites. They have a massive list of all the popular streaming sites (YouTube, AppleTV, Netflix, etc.) and then throttle the sites in the list. When providers say “unlimited 480p video streaming” they actually have no clue what video quality you are watching. They just pick a bandwidth limitation that would only allow 480p video to play without buffering.
They could in theory use network traffic analysis to identify video websites which are have bursty bandwidth patterns (due to the nature of video buffers), but this would be more difficult, more expensive, and extremely prone to false positives.
I had no idea you could use a VPN to circumvent mobile data throttling. Fucking amazing info, mate.
If you can, it’s actually a bad thing because it means the Telco is violating net neutrality by picking and choosing certain traffic to zero-rate.
Not all countries are lucky enough to have net neutrality…
It violates the principle and is therefore a bad thing regardless of what the law is.
Glad to help!
The reason it works is because telecom providers use DNS-based throttling instead of deep packet inspection to selectively limit bandwidth to video sites. They have a massive list of all the popular streaming sites (YouTube, AppleTV, Netflix, etc.) and then throttle the sites in the list. When providers say “unlimited 480p video streaming” they actually have no clue what video quality you are watching. They just pick a bandwidth limitation that would only allow 480p video to play without buffering.
They could in theory use network traffic analysis to identify video websites which are have bursty bandwidth patterns (due to the nature of video buffers), but this would be more difficult, more expensive, and extremely prone to false positives.
This doesn’t make any sense. Your phone service provider can’t see what you’re doing, but surely they can see how much data you’re using.