The Entire World Is Streaming More Than Ever
– and It's Straining the Internet
The world has become a global village where you can stream content online from anywhere on the planet. It is great for streamers, but it puts a strain on the internet.
The number of devices streaming content has increased immensely over recent years. But this trend is going to continue as long as people are willing to pay and watch streaming services in Australia, the US, Canada, the UK, and other parts of the world.
It includes all the new shows and movies that services such as Netflix, Stan, and Amazon Prime produce.
The growing number of online streamers and their increasing demand for high-quality streaming is stressing the major streaming networks.
Even though demand will continue to rise due to Covid-19, the stress will only increase more.
Thus, this blog will provide a quick view of how streaming services are handling the internet breakthrough. We are ready to begin!
The Internet Is Getting Too Slow for Streaming; Here's Why
The world is streaming more than ever, and it is slowing down the internet. Streaming video accounts for more than half of all web traffic today.
Thus, it equals more than 80% expected three years ago. For the first time, internet traffic is growing at a faster pace.
We are probably watching more videos on our phones and streaming content online. But it's also because of an increasing number of people surfing on sites like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime, Disney Plus who have become "digital migrants."
Therefore, they end up turning to low-cost, high-bandwidth networks rather than fixed broadband connections to access streaming services.
Breaking Bandwidth; How Are Streaming Services Breaking the Internet
Streaming services are obstructing the internet and creating a huge problem. As more streaming services become available, bandwidth is used more for videos.
Also, streaming services are expected to consume more bandwidth in the next 3-4 years than all online content combined.
According to CNBC, it means that streaming services surpass the amount of data allowed by Internet Service Providers.
Thus, they have changed how we watch TV, but they have also affected how we use bandwidth.
With the introduction of streaming services, it's easy to forget when we couldn't watch all our favorite shows at any time.
However, as internet connections have become faster and widely available, these services have started to produce more.
In contrast to this, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video account for almost half of all internet traffic. In addition, more than 2/3 of the world's internet users are watching videos online.
It means that their need for bandwidth is also increasing exponentially. As a result, there is the risk of overloading the internet.
Streaming services use a lot of bandwidth as the number of streamers increases every year. As a result, people are connecting to these platforms. They allow them to stream more over the internet at increasing speeds.
How Streaming Services Are Avoiding Straining the Internet
Streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video are causing a massive increase in internet traffic.
These services generate nearly 50% of the traffic on the internet. But they're working hard to prevent the internet from becoming strained.
To avoid the internet from slowing down, streaming services are implementing a concept called "zero-rating."
It means that streaming services will pay for the data fees associated with their content. In this way, you don't have to worry about going over your data limit.
Similarly, there are several ways streaming services avoid breaking the internet and slow-loading content.
These include using "adaptive bit-rate" streaming technology. Using this method allows users to receive video at a suitable quality adhering to a strict bandwidth quota.
Moreover, Netflix has already come up with a solution for the major strains caused by bandwidth breaking.
It automatically adjusts the video quality established on available bandwidth, which adjusts the streaming quality.
Certainly, other platforms follow similar steps to avoid straining the internet. For example, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video have also introduced standard quality streaming implementations.
These methods are applied according to the bandwidth available to avoid straining the internet. In addition, it's important to understand that not all countries have the same connection speed or internet infrastructure.
Therefore, there is no reason to treat every country differently. It all depends on the bandwidth provided, which ranges differently in each country.
In a Nutshell
Due to the huge data being passed through the internet, it is nearly on the edge of breaking. For streaming services to continue growing with such a large audience, they must develop solutions.
This article discusses how streaming services are slowing down the internet. Also, it offers some guidelines on how to avoid this issue. These solutions will allow them for more efficient use and less strain on the internet.