The Quiet Plan to Make the Internet Feel Faster
Engineers and major companies are pushing a technology called L4S that they say could make the web feel dramatically faster. But how?
Building for Tomorrow
Many people have experienced slow-loading websites and buffering issues, even with high-speed internet connections. One major factor contributing to this is latency, or the delay in sending and receiving data. While popular speed tests provide some insight into latency, they don't provide a complete picture.
To address latency issues, companies like Apple, Google, and Comcast have shown interest in a new internet standard called L4S. L4S aims to almost eliminate latency by improving the latency feedback loop and reducing the need for queuing. With L4S, data can flow more efficiently, leading to faster web page loading times and fewer glitches in video calls.
L4S has the potential to revolutionize internet speed and enable developers to create applications that weren't previously possible. However, before diving into L4S, it's important to understand the current challenges with internet speed and congestion control.
Why Is My Internet So Slow?
There are various reasons why your internet may feel slow. The internet consists of a vast network of interconnected routers, switches, and fibers. If there's a bottleneck at any point in this network, your internet experience can suffer. Additionally, outdated congestion control systems and buffer bloat, where buffers have become too large, can contribute to latency issues and slower speeds.
One misconception is that having a high-bandwidth connection guarantees low latency. However, the time it takes for data to transfer is determined by the slowest link in the chain, rather than the overall capacity. So even with a gigabit internet connection, latency issues can still persist.
Introducing L4S: The Solution to Latency
L4S, which stands for Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput, aims to address latency issues and improve internet speed. It works by reducing the need for queuing and making the latency feedback loop shorter. When congestion occurs, L4S devices can quickly adjust the amount of data they send, preventing further congestion and reducing latency.
By adding an indicator to packets, L4S allows devices to immediately identify congestion during transmission. This enables them to take appropriate actions to maintain data throughput without introducing additional latency. L4S has the potential to significantly decrease buffering delays and provide a smoother internet experience.
While L4S is still in the early stages of deployment, major companies like Apple and Comcast have shown interest. There is ongoing testing and development to ensure compatibility with existing congestion control systems and widespread adoption in the future.
