Q: How is iTunes so slow downloading updates and music?

Having the same problem here. Downloading a 40MB update of an app is supposed to take 2 hours according to iTunes. The problem started around Tuesday for me. Currently I'm having the feeling that this is a network issue. Did a ping to the update server that is being used and from my location (Germany) the ping comes back with more than 1500ms. When I do a network trace, it runs fine from my house via several hops up to Frankfurt (presumably the DE-CIX) with a latency of only 15ms, then it jumps up to more than 1500ms for the last two hops (the latter one is the actual update server). Looks like Apple either has a routing or load balancing problem within their server farms. But calling support really was of no use to me as they most likely would try to make me investigate my whole LAN setup which is not the problem here as everything else is running just fine. It's just the connection to Apple's servers that's ridiculously slow.

Did a bit more digging. The problem I am having seems to be specific to german internet provider Unitymedia. However, Unitymedia may actually not be the one to blame here. When I do a trace of the actual server that is delivering the update, I notice that everything is lightning fast until it reaches the Apple data center (IPs should start with 17.). Over the last two or so hops, the ping time drops from 15ms to 1600-1700ms, which explains why every download is slow.

During a call with the Apple iTunes Store support yesterday, it surfaced that they were getting multiple reports from Unitymedia customers in the last week but were unable to find a pattern just yet and were assuming a problem with the service provider. Other carriers are either not affected at all or not affected that severely. I gave them all the information I had gathered from tracing and they will be looking into it more closely.

However, I think it is really necessary for everyone experiencing this problem right now, to contact the Apple iTunes Support directly and let them know - especially if you are a Unitymedia customer based in Germany. The more calls they get, the more pressure it creates to get it fixed, even if the problem might be more complex than outlined and needs cooperation from network peering partner.

So, DO GIVE THEM A CALL if you want this problem fixed :-)

I noticed the same problem. And I am in Southern California! Other websites seem fine. Running a speed test shows that I have a great internet connection. But downloading anything from Apple (especially through iTunes) is incredibly slow. Perhaps my downloads are being routed through Germany.

I have the same issue as this from UK with BT as internet provider.

Only saw the problem with Music files timing out with 3253 error continuously, Movies and TV Shows downloaded without error.

This only started yesterday afternoon/evening...was OK in the morning.

Did anyone else try this fix? Didn't work for me. Still same problem with error 3253 and connection reset when trying to download music. Movies and TV Shows download without issue, so not a network issue my end.