Use of the Generalized Bandwidth Allocation Model (G-BAM) for Compliance with Network Neutrality – Proposal and Evaluation

Abstract

The flow of data across the Internet has grown considerably in the last years and maintains this trend in volume, complexity, and variety, and therefore needs to be adequately managed by ISPs. Network neutrality represents the concept that ISPs should not discriminate against internet traffic in general based on its source, destination, and content. Several countries adopt a hard stance and prohibit certain abusive conduct from achieving this goal. An open issue and challenging task are to propose an operational and effective traffic management model that can implement and comply with network neutrality on ISP's networks. This dissertation presents evidence on the use of Bandwidth Allocation Models (BAMs) as a mechanism to implement neutrality in IP/MPLS networks. BAMs, in brief, can allocate resources on-demand and have distinct “behaviors” that can achieve network neutrality. This work introduces the AllocTC-Sharing behavior reproduced by the Generalized Bandwidth Allocation Model (G-BAM). It discusses how this behavior can perform a network operation following network neutrality, even using service differentiation. Finally, it simulates and evaluates the compliance with the established rules, considering a non-discriminatory mapping of applications in different Traffic Classes. The results indicate that the AllocTC-Sharing behavior is appropriate and compatible with the net neutrality rules.