Bad lag again with NTT's NA server network

[Rekts]

Yup, this exact same thing happened a few years ago. It's clearly NTT when looking at Trace routes. It's even the same node as last time if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately Squenix probably doesn't have much recourse, despite being NTT's customer because NTT is enormous and FFXIV's US income is for NTT is probably equivalent to a rounding error for them. This is why Squenix probably wants us going through AT&T. They're also huge and probably have more pull. Unfortunately AT&T also doesn't care because it's not their infrastructure that's causing the problem and the amount of FFXIV players on their service isn't worth the effort to get someone to hassle NTT either.

But isn't this technically holding the consumers service for ransom? I mean we pay AT&T for service, we're being provided that service. We pay ffxiv for their service, they're trying to provide that service, but in both of these cases NTT is stopping it.

I'll admit I'm not familiar with the legality of everything, but this just doesn't feel like it should be legal. Even NTT is being paid by SE for service they're not providing, while simultaneously withholding 2 services *we* pay for.

[Uno_Amaretto]

I'll admit I'm not familiar with the legality of everything, but this just doesn't feel like it should be legal.

Billion-dollar corporations caring about legality. Good joke.

If the potential fines for breaking the law are less than the potential profit gains from strong-arming AT&T, they're gonna take the risk every single time.

[lolnotacat]

But isn't this technically holding the consumers service for ransom? I mean we pay AT&T for service, we're being provided that service. We pay ffxiv for their service, they're trying to provide that service, but in both of these cases NTT is stopping it.

I'll admit I'm not familiar with the legality of everything, but this just doesn't feel like it should be legal. Even NTT is being paid by SE for service they're not providing, while simultaneously withholding 2 services *we* pay for.

I'm not a lawyer so take this with a grain of salt, but legality is really only an issue if someone is willing/able to bring forward a case.

Squenix won't be very willing to bring a case against NTT. First, it would cost millions and take years, for damages which are overall marginal. Also because NTT is a gigantic multi-national that dwarfs Squenix and more importantly, also almost undoubtedly hosts their data/servers in Japan. Getting on NTT's bad side probably isn't something they're keen to do. Also, depending on the contract, the service NTT is providing may still be within what's stipulated.

AT&T on the other hand doesn't care because it's not their service that's the problem. Their contract is to provide us with internet service. That contract doesn't state that every node they connect to will have a certain amount of bandwidth or stability. If Twitter were to go down, we don't complain to AT&T about it. This would be the same thing because the issue lies with NTT. Also, despite being competitors, they'd undoubtedly rather stay friendly with NTT than engage in a legal battle over what would be a negligible, and unnoticeable blip in their overall traffic and a rounding error in regards to revenue (if people switch ISPs at all).

[Uno_Amaretto]

lots of words

This is the best summary of the situation and why there's so little anyone can do about it.