EU warns of broadband strain as millions work from home

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: Financial Times

The EU has called on streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube to limit their services in order to prevent the continent’s broadband networks from crashing as tens of millions of people start working from home. Until now, telecoms companies have been bullish that internet infrastructure can withstand the drastic change in online behaviour brought about by the coronavirus outbreak.

But on Wednesday evening, Thierry Breton, one of the European commissioners in charge of digital policy, said streaming platforms and telecoms companies had a “joint responsibility to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the internet” during the crisis. The EU said streaming platforms should consider offering only standard definition, rather than high-definition, programmes and users should be responsible about their data consumption. There are worries that domestic broadband connections, which were designed to cope only with evening surges in traffic, may not be able to handle long days of adults engaging in video conferencing and children taking online classes or logging on to play games or watch movies.

Even big technology groups have recognised that they are struggling with the shifts in traffic. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, told reporters on Wednesday that the social media company was experiencing “surges” in the use of certain services, including a doubling in the use of calls over its WhatsApp and Messenger apps. Usage is “on a sustained basis” well beyond its annual spike at New Years’, he said, adding that managing this was “a challenge". He added: “We need to make sure we are on top of this from an infrastructure perspective.”


Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/b4ab03db-de1f-4f98-bcc2-b09007427e1b

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Yes, I'm seeing this when periodically check into my emails...the server doesn't respond, so ...

I try later. Thank goodness I don't have an awful lot of them, being an ol' IT guy who doesn't want emails. I had my fill of them (the emails) when I worked in IT, and since I've retired, I am adamantly opposed to them, w/ few exceptions (family and some friends, which doesn't number into the hundreds like some claim, I only have a few).

I do have Netflix and YouTube, slowdown on Netflix but I don't watch very much and I do have You Tube, which has been fine thus far.

[cstanleytech]

2. Not a big deal for me personally as I can always read and that does not

take an internet connection.

[NotHardly]

3. Neither their system or our system is that good or reliable... we guessed it before, we know it now

This needs to be fixed all around US and UK. These companies make a staggering amount of money but their infrastructure is being shown to be weak and undependable. Time for them to put some of that money into broadening and speeding up their systems.

This is just the tip of the iceberg shown by this virus.

We have lots of holes in lots of our little nets (parts of life and those things on which we thought we could depend)... our sense of invulnerability in infrastructure, health, and manufacturing is an illusion.

[customerserviceguy]

4. I was just saying this

to my lady this morning. The spike in Internet use has got to be pushing the system to the limit.

For the last half week, I haven't been able to update any apps on my Android phone. Perhaps that's a separate problem, but they stream a lot of bulky media files, so it might be related.

[Coventina]

5. Coming soon to the USA. Millions of students moving to all online format.

Today is my last day in the office.

After today, I'm no longer allowed on campus, I have to work from home, and teach all my courses online.

I don't even have high-speed internet at home, and all the public libraries are closed.

[Bengus81]

6. Gosh...what to do?? I know raise the RATES!!

The gouging won't just be on toilet paper.