Netflix, a video streaming service provider, has voiced its concerns about the proposed $45 billion merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, saying the united entity would control the high speed Internet market in the U.S.
Earlier, Comcast said Google, Apple, Verizon, etc. would threaten their position in the cable TV and Internet market. It wants the regulator to approve its merger with Time Warner Cable without any conditions.
Also read: Google and Apple take center stage in Comcast appeal for merger with Time Warner
The video streaming service provider also criticized AT&T’s high-speed fiber network as inadequate and slow, while renewing its call for AT&T to interconnect directly with Netflix.
Netflix openly criticized AT&T at a time when the American telecom service provider and internet search engine Google are stepping up their fiber based Internet access across the nation. The main focus of Netflix is to ensure net neutrality, which impacts revenues of telecom operators because they are offering pipes to stream huge video content of players such as Netflix without additional compensation.
Also read: AT&T speeds up fiber network reach to 21 new areas, takes on Google
Netflix made the remarks in a letter to shareholders on its first-quarter results. The company wants Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content without restrictions or tiered charges.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said AT&T’s fiber-based U-verse service has lower performance than many DSL Internet service providers.
AT&T did not comment on Reed Hastings’ letter.
In a March blog post, AT&T had dismissed Netflix’s call for free interconnection as an arrogant and unfair attempt to force others to pay for the content provider to gain access to faster broadband speeds and better services.
“249 customer comments on AT&T’s anti-Netflix blog post indicate that AT&T customers expect a good quality Netflix experience given how much they pay AT&T for their Internet service,” said Netflix in its letter.
Netflix added that AT&T can connect directly with Netflix for free, saying that doing so would quickly improve their customers’ experience.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
