In the eye of the Tiger: Netflix, other streaming services spike bandwidth usage

Atlantic Broadband says bandwidth demand is way up, and they're good with that. (Courtesy/The Western New Yorker); inset (Courtesy/ABB)

While health experts urge those on stay-at-home orders to get out and exercise, and self-help gurus urge us to write a book or learn an instrument, one look at the public's appetite for bandwidth tells us what folks are really doing while hunkered down at home.

Adults are surfing the 'Net, millennials are hanging out on Zoom, Facebook and Instagram, and everybody's watching Netflix' Tiger King.

Atlantic Broadband released new metrics on Tuesday that show since mid-March when stay-at-home orders were enacted across their broadband coverage area, their customers increased their internet traffic by as much as 30 percent and more.

Netflix usage may have led the way with as much as an 80 percent bandwidth increase during the evening hours, now even sometimes during the day, Atlantic Broadband spokesmen Andy Walton said on Tuesday.

"Those (Netflix) peak times used to always be during the evening, but now we're seeing it during the day, too," Walton said.

Video on Demand (VOD) usage has also increased by 50 percent, he said.

Despite the enormity of bandwidth growth during the pandemic, Walton said the ABB network has been built to adapt to changes in bandwidth usage, with ample capacity to handle peak periods and extended traffic increases like we are experiencing now.

"We have been investing for many years to get the network ready for times like this," Walton said. "We have also future-proofed' the network so it will be able to meet tomorrow's demands as technology and usage continue to evolve."

And managing ABB's network, which spans 11 states, is primarily done through its Network Operations Center (NOC) right here in Rochester, Walton explained.

"They manage the entire system's operation constantly right there in Rochester, monitoring network traffic to make sure capacity is maintained," he said.

And while the ABB network has capacity to meet the current demand, company officials say they have the ability to add additional capacity should it be necessary in the future.

"We provide vital, essential services and understand that network connectivity is of critical importance at this time, so we have devoted our full resources to ensuring this connectivity," said Aaron Brace, Vice President of Engineering for Atlantic Broadband.