Overburdened networks amid the coronavirus pandemic highlight the need to invest in infrastructure build-out

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Netflix and YouTube agreed to limit video streaming quality as quarantine measures push internet traffic to unprecedented heights, according to Reuters.

The two content platforms made the accommodations at the behest of the EU, as it seeks to ensure stable network access for critical activities like telemedicine, remote work, and virtual classrooms. In the US, the Federal Communications Commission gave T-Mobile, Verizon, and US Cellular access to additional spectrum for a 60-day period in an effort to help them mitigate network strain.

Quarantine measures have caused a massive social adjustment in online behavior, which will likely persist to a lesser extent even once those measures are phased out. Verizon reported that data loads for video games on its network increased 75% week-over-week, VPN increased 34%, web traffic increased 20%, and video 12%. "I don't think this will snap back and everything will be the way it used to be," Ashish Sharma, president of IoT and mobile solutions at Inseego, told Business Insider Intelligence. "

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All of these technologies - whether video conferencing, voice, fixed networks, or wireless networks - are being tested right now and providers are rushing to fill whatever gaps they have. … I think society as a whole will learn from this and improve and adjust."

Network operators should accelerate network build-outs to anticipate the convergence of permanent changes in consumer behavior and the rise of data-intensive technologies. Even as many activities return to off-line settings, the rise of data-intensive activities such as cloud gaming and 8K video streaming could see data rates return within a few years to the levels we're presently witnessing.

If there is a silver lining to the current situation, it is that operators are able to stress-test their networks and identify weaknesses. For instance, despite experiencing a surge in usage, BT believes its network performance shows that it would be capable of handling even greater demand. The pandemic also presents an opportunity to address another fundamental issue facing future networks: access. As public services including many schools move online, network operators are being asked to facilitate more equitable access to internet services, as quarantine measures highlight the need to bridge the connectivity divide.

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