Broadband Use Surged More Than 30% During Pandemic (cnet.com) 13
Broadband use surged 30% to 40% during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, and even reached 60% in some areas, an industry group has concluded. CNET reports: The Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group released data this week that it gathered from internet service providers, broadband analytics firms, and networking companies that help deliver data. We all consumed more downstream data -- the flow from the internet to the home -- but upstream use grew faster. That's an important consideration given that most cable and DSL services offer much higher downstream capacity. All those videoconferences for work meetings and online schooling likely were involved in the upstream data traffic. "Some networks saw more than 300% increase in the amount of video conferencing traffic from February to October 2020," the report said.
Though the internet itself held up well overall, there are problems. "Rural and low-income households have struggled" with broadband access to online services, the report said, and some households suffered with older equipment that couldn't handle heavy traffic or the increase in networked devices in the home. If you're having problems at home, you should consider an Ethernet cable connection to your network router, upgrading to a mesh network with multiple network access points, upgrading your PC or phone, or paying for a faster internet connection if it's available.
Though the internet itself held up well overall, there are problems. "Rural and low-income households have struggled" with broadband access to online services, the report said, and some households suffered with older equipment that couldn't handle heavy traffic or the increase in networked devices in the home. If you're having problems at home, you should consider an Ethernet cable connection to your network router, upgrading to a mesh network with multiple network access points, upgrading your PC or phone, or paying for a faster internet connection if it's available.
Isolate and Netflix and Chill by yourself (Score:5, Interesting)
Well that and all the Zoom meetings, work from home, and if you have kids, remote learning.
I'm surprised it's as low as 30%.
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My first thought as well.
Really? (Score:3, Insightful)
No shit? What a surprise!
Never would have guessed that with 3/4 of the pop on lockdown, everyone would be using their internet more to keep in touch with their friends.
What amazing statistic will they come up with next?
Re:Really? (Score:4, Insightful)
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True, but now we actually know how MUCH more.
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Water consumption goes up during heat waves, by how much?
Energy consumption goes up during clod snaps, by how much?
The "by how much" provides useful information to plan ahead for the next time something might happen.
need to move to symetrical networking (Score:2)
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Quantum Internet (formerly CenturyLink) has partnered with my local utility company. The utility company has recently gone through my neighborhood and run fiber throughout. It will own and maintain the infrastructure, and allow ISP's to provide competing services over it.
Quantum is the first ISP to provide service over it, and is offering symmetrical gigabit with no data caps for $65/month. I'm scheduling my installation right now. By contrast, I'm paying just over $97/month for Cable Internet at 200/? with