OpenVault, which provides data usage measurement and analysis capabilities to its network operator customers, says that broadband consumption growth related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic shows signs of leveling in markets that the company described as “quarantined.” The company reached this conclusion after its data showed downstream rates declining 5.80% the week of March 30–April 3 versus the previous week.
OpenVault says the downstream decline followed three weeks of double-digit growth. And while upstream use continued to grow between March 30 and April 3, the increase was only 2.3%.
“It’s too early to say that the industry has weathered the storm of additional usage, but signs point to the greatest surge of growth by far as being behind us,” said Mark Trudeau, CEO and founder of OpenVault. “Operators will need to keep close eyes on any incremental increases – particularly during peak hours and in the upstream – as well as the impact of new quarantines in additional markets, but their networks seem in the meantime to be well-prepared to handle this increased data consumption.”