Atlantic Broadband has reported significant increases in Internet bandwidth usage since the COVID-19 outbreak. With stay-at-home orders in place in most states, there has been a significant increase in traffic due to work-from-home, e-learning and increased usage of video platforms.
Since mid-March:
- Internet traffic from Atlantic Broadband customers increased approximately 25%, with some areas exceeding 30%.
- Netflix has experienced bandwidth usage nearly 60% higher, with some evenings seeing peaks 80% higher.
- Video on demand (VOD) usage increased by 50%.
- Overall usage on the company's video platforms has been higher not only during the typical peak period of primetime, but also throughout the day, with those peaks extending for longer periods of time.
Heightened usage levels are expected to continue while business and residential customers are staying at home, as needs for educational, work and entertainment resources are high.
The network utilization increases have generally followed the timing of the stay-at-home orders that have been issued by state governors, with orders now in effect in 10 of the 11 states in which the company provides services.
"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. "Due to the major investment we have made in our fiber-broadband infrastructure, our network is built to accommodate the increased levels of demand that have occurred in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak."