Can FAST TCP help in wireless environment?
The current TCP performs poorly in two types of networks: high speed networks and wireless networks. We have optimized FAST TCP for the former. We believe it can be tailored to provide significant benefit in wireless networks as well, but we have not started this work yet. The reason for our optimism is as follows. The current TCP assumes all packet losses are due to buffer overflows. There are two types of packet losses in wireless networks: those due to buffer overflows and those due to the wireless environment such as hand-offs, interference, fading, etc. They confuse the current TCP, driving down performance. FAST TCP does not make this assumption and hence can potentially maintain performance in the face of wireless losses.
