Several countries are imposing Work from Home due to the worldwide outbreak of Coronavirus. Due to this worldwide outbreak, everyone who is working from home or just staying at the home for the self-quarantine purpose is using the internet at a massive rate than usual. This has caused Europe’s Internet infrastructure buckling.
For this specific reason, EU industry chief Thierry Breton has urged streaming platforms to free up bandwidth for healthcare and distance learning for thousands of children sent home by closing schools. To this request, several companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, Facebook, Disney+, YouTube, etc. have responded. Among which Facebook and Disney+ are the latest.
Companies decreasing Bandwidths:
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- Disney+
- Apple TV+
YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prive Videos, Apple TV+ have already decreased their video streaming quality in Europe a few days back. Recently Facebook, as well as Instagram, has also decreased the bandwidth as both are operated by the same social media giant.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65654644/jbareham_191104_0970_streaming_0001.0.jpg "Online Entertainment Streaming quality lowered in Europe to reduce bandwidth usage to help Healthcare 6")
Disney is taking measures too by delaying the launch of its new service in France (at the request of the French government). Disney+ will launch in the UK and other markets on schedule (tomorrow, March 24), but will start off with lower video quality. Bandwidth usage will be decreased by “at least 25%” for all new European markets (which also includes Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland).
These measures will last as long as there is worry about there’s worry about overloading the infrastructure.
