A week after accusing mega mobile providers AT&T and Verizon of restricting the quality of Netflix streaming video, the entertainment provider admitted it's been throttling users' bandwidth for years.
Netflix has lowered the quality of its video to users of certain mobile providers in an effort to save customers from data overage charges, the company told The Wall Street Journal.
The company is launching its data saver plan in May, which gives users more flexibility to control bandwidth. Currently AT&T and Verizon users are restricted to about 600 kilobits per second.
"It's about striking a balance that ensures a good streaming experience while avoiding unplanned fines from mobile providers," Anne Marie Squeo, a company spokeswoman, wrote in a blog post.
Netflix does not restrict the video quality for T-Mobile and Sprint users because "historically those two companies have had more consumer-friendly policies," the company told The Wall Street Journal.
John Legere, T-Mobile CEO, brought up the issue about lower-quality streaming video in a post on Twitter.
Mobile providers AT&T and Verizon denied they throttled bandwidth.
"We're outraged to learn that Netflix is apparently throttling video for their AT&T customers without their knowledge or consent," Jim Cicconi, head of legislative affairs for AT&T, said in a statement.
"Verizon delivers video content at the resolution provided by the video host, whether that's Netflix or any other provider," a Verizon spokesman told The Wall Street Journal.
About the Author
