Comcast and Apple have reportedly been in talks for a deal, which would allow users of Comcast to access the content of the cable provider via a set-top box on Apple TV.
However, the arrangement includes as well an interconnection deal that is intended to guarantee that content that is Internet-based does not become slowed by buffering and other forms of delay.
The deal is reportedly not done, as the part with the interconnection will require a significant investment in network equipment as well as other technology for the back office.
It would stream on-demand and live TV programming from a cloud. However, those who have been met with “buffering” on mobile devices are aware that streaming video is not the most reliable all the time as content on the TV.
Due to this, Apple want the new service’s traffic to be apart from the public traffic on the Internet via the last mile, said someone close to the negotiations.
Recently, streaming video giant Netflix secured a deal with Comcast for interconnections that gives it a more direct link between Comcast and Netflix to improve overall quality of the streaming of Netflix on Comcast.
Netflix said later that it had entered the new deal reluctantly and instead would have preferred strong neutrality rules on the net making it less needful to secure any interconnection deals.
Comcast shot back that it supports net neutrality principles and these deals are not new. Comcast said that providers such as Netflix always paid for interconnections to the Internet as well as always having ample option of ensuring their customers have the optimal performance through every ISP at fair prices.
The report says that Apple will not ask for its content traffic to be prioritized over others, which would violate the net neutrality principles. Although, the official rule of net neutrality for the FCC were recently struck down, but Comcast must abide by them through 2018 as part of the acquisition deal with NBC Universal.
