# Evaluating MPTCP Congestion Control Algorithms: Implications for Streaming in Open Internet
###### Abstract  
In today's digital era, the demand for uninterrupted and efficient data streaming is paramount across various sectors, from entertainment to industrial automation. While the traditional single-path solutions often fell short in ensuring rapid and consistent data transfers, Multipath TCP (MPTCP) emerges as a promising alternative, enabling simultaneous data transfer across multiple network paths. The efficacy of MPTCP, however, hinges on the choice of appropriate congestion control (CC) algorithms. Addressing the present knowledge gap, this research provides a thorough evaluation of key MPTCP CC algorithms in the context of streaming applications in open Internet environments. Our findings reveal that BALIA stands out as the most suitable choice for MPTCP streaming, adeptly balancing waiting time, throughput, and Head-of-Line blocking reduction. Conversely, the wVegas algorithm, with its delay-centric approach, proves less adequate for multipath streaming. This study underscores the imperative to fine-tune MPTCP for streaming applications, at the same time offering insights for future development areas and innovations.  
MPTCP; congestion control; streaming applications; tactile internet +
Footnote †: journal:  
0000-0001-4000-0000-0000-0000-0000-0000-0000-00000-0000-00000-0000-000  
and multipath transmission, it is beneficial to understand their foundational role in shaping the digital landscape. The subsequent sections of this paper aim to build upon this foundational remark, exploring the specifics of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) and related congestion control (CC) algorithms in the area of streaming solutions [5; 6].  
The proliferation of mobile devices has added a new layer of complexity to the already intricate world of IP-based systems. Smartphones, tablets, and other portable gadgets have become commonplace, serving as essential tools for communication, entertainment, and professional activities. However, their widespread use has also given rise to a multitude of questions that traditional IP-based systems are ill-equipped to answer [1; 3]. One such pressing issue is the variability of link parameters. As mobile devices move from one location to another, they often need to switch networks seamlessly. While the logical IP address of the device may remain unmodified, the underlying link parameters can change dramatically. This variability poses significant challenges for maintaining a consistent QoS [2; 7]. Adding to this complexity, modern mobile devices are frequently equipped with multiple network interfaces, such as cellular (LTE, 5G) and Wi-Fi. These interfaces have distinct characteristics, including bandwidth, latency, and reliability. The need to manage these diverse interfaces effectively further complicates the objectives of mobile connectivity [8]. External factors, such as interference from other users and devices limit the range of services that can be reliably offered [3]. To mitigate these issues, researchers and practitioners have proposed the simultaneous use of multiple transmission channels across different physical interfaces [9], such as MPTCP. However, the implementation of MPTCP and the associated CC algorithms in the context of mobile and _streaming applications_ remains mostly unexplored, which motivates this work.