When is peak internet usage

But some broadband policy experts are unconvinced it will be smooth sailing for all broadband users as traffic ramps up. Feld says there are several potential choke points in the internet that could hurt network performance. The most obvious depends on the type of technology used to access service. For instance, older cable broadband networks and DSL networks use infrastructure that was primarily designed to send information in one direction -- downstream.

As a result, the broadband service offered is asynchronous, which means that the download speed is much faster than the upload speeds.

This may be fine for watching a movie or sending a tweet, but it is likely to be problematic for households using multiple videoconferencing applications like Zoom, which need a lot of capacity upstream as well as downstream. Mobile wireless networks, fixed wireless networks in rural areas and satellite broadband services are also likely to have similar capacity constraints.

Feld applauded the carriers and the FCC for taking this step. While some access networks may struggle, Feld acknowledged that newer cable broadband networks and fiber networks, which don't have the same upload constraints, will likely perform fine.

This is exactly why Feld and other broadband policy experts, like former FCC official Jon Sallet, say it's crucial that the FCC collect data to know how the networks perform during this crisis.

But we need to know what worked and what didn't. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Coronavirus transforms peak internet usage into the new normal Internet usage is spiking. Marguerite Reardon. According to Wikipedia,. However, now-a-days internet rush hour is usually between 7 and Think about it, what do you do between pm and pm online?

Do you watch youtube videos, get on social media, play games, skype, video chat, download music, listen to music…. So, would you like those things to go slower or faster? Faster, and thats what SFN does. Southern Fibernet helps you to conquer internet rush hour by delivering internet service at light-speeds. It is important to note, however, that this data does not provide a perfect picture of residential traffic because it is blended with business traffic. Furthermore, many large content providers peer within the core network of operators, effectively avoiding IXPs.

Nevertheless, IXPs have been reporting some fascinating trends. The response to the changing profile of Internet usage is multi-layered. In response to the extraordinary circumstances presented by the pandemic and its impact on the profile of Internet usage, significant efforts have been made at all levels to maintain quality of service QoS.

Coordination and cooperation between the multiple layers that make up the Internet is key to address issues proactively. The aforementioned IXPs have responded to the increased demand by enhancing network capacity. This kind of move is important because, as the interconnection ports of the Internet, IXPs enable traffic to move around the world cost-effectively and efficiently. Some of the largest content providers for video and gaming are playing their part too.

On-demand video, after all, represents a disproportionately large share of Internet traffic, and the pandemic is sure to amplify that trend. Of course, fixed and mobile operators cannot be forgotten either.

Notably, Opensignal has reported a marked increase in the time spent on Wi-Fi across most markets where restrictions on the movement of people have been implemented. However, at the same time, mobile networks have been experiencing unprecedented demand in many markets. Mobile voice traffic, in particular, has exploded despite a backdrop of year-on-year declines.

The increased usage and the concentration of the population in areas where site grid density tends to be lower has resulted in a fall in median average weekly 4G LTE download speeds, according to Opensignal.

In order to maintain performance, a number of strategies have been employed by mobile operators. Separately, Dish Network in the US is lending some of its unused spectrum to mobile operators there at no cost. Some regulators and mobile operators have also been encouraging consumers to call with Wi-Fi, traditional landlines or OTT services such as Skype and Whatsapp. This is so as to reduce the strain on the cellular voice network while maintaining a high QoS.

The capability of mobile networks that are dependent on a circuit-switched fallback CSFB architecture to cater to a large volume of voice calls has been somewhat reduced by the refarming of spectrum in recent years. Conclusion: A paradigm shift in how we think about and use the Internet. The second-order effects of the coronavirus pandemic are heralding a paradigm shift in how we think about and use the Internet.