Assessment of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) Protocol on Lebanese Access Networks

Multipath TCP protocol (MPTCP) is an evolution of TCP protocol that can effectively use multiple paths within a single transport connection. It is implemented in the kernel of devices operating system (OS) and is transparent for applications. It has different implementations for Linux, Android and iOS. In this paper, we assess the performance, in terms of throughput, obtained by using MPTCP protocol over Lebanese access networks. We consider ADSL and mobile connections. We show that the MPTCP protocol allows to aggregate the throughput of both ADSL and 4G connections when using Alfa operator, while Touch does not permit the use of MPTCP protocol. With MPTCP, the client can benefit from the summation of throughputs on ADSL and LTE connections. Furthermore, if one connection fails on a link, the connection pursue without any interruption on the other links. Thanks to MPTCP, a Lebanese client/company can benefit from a good internet connection with a throughput of up to 90 Mpbs by aggregating several moderate connections.