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Comment by lxgr | Hacker News Reader

> Many ISPs, device manufacturers, and consumers automate periodic, high-intensity speed tests that negatively impact the consumer internet experience as demonstrated.

Is that actually a thing? Why would any ISP intentionally add unnecessary load to their network?

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See https://www.thousandeyes.com/blog/cisco-announces-intent-to-... for example, SamKnows is in millions of homes measuring performance and now sending the data to Cisco.

For what it's worth, I think most ISPs that do this will host their speed test in-network so their speeds are inflated. This benefits both the ISP and whoever is in charge of the speed test(like speedtest.net).

So they're not really increasing their network load a measurable amount since the data never actually leaves their internal network. My ISP's network admin explained this to me one day when I asked about it. He said they don't really notice any difference.

That’s why Netflix has fast.com, which pulls actual video content, meaning it’s hard for the ISP to inflate the number.

(at least as per my understanding)

Sort of -- Netflix probably has a CDN cache at the ISP, and the ISP can definitely prioritize that cache. Fast.com will use that CDN if available.

https://openconnect.netflix.com/en/

I've only met around 10 people that even know what a speed test is. I'm not sure how most consumers would even go about automating one. What would be the first step?

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