Comcast Joins P4P Tests to Offer Better Download Speeds

The reputation Comcast acquired over the last two years would not have anyone believe that the company is really participating in a test of new P4P file sharing protocol that enables considerably enhanced speeds. Moreover, they seem determined to quickly extend its use. It kind of makes you go…hmmm.

Basically, what this system does is localize p2p file sharing. Currently, when you access a torrent, you download and upload data from and to users worldwide. This affects the efficiency and this is where P4P steps in by prioritizing peers who are close to you (with respect to the network), thus improving the download process significantly in terms of speed and accuracy.

More info about how the system works is offered by ArsTechnica. This technology is based on iTrackers being installed on ISPs networks. There’s a direct proportion between the networks that run iTrackers, how well the P4P system will perform and how high speeds will get. Comcast is at the moment making efforts to set the iTrackers an Internet Engineering Task Force as standard, aiming at spreading and the software as quickly as possible.

So, will this mean happy end for everyone? I mean P2P users are beneficiating from improved speeds and the notorious company enjoys a lower volume of traffic. I think we just have to wait and see how this works out.