BRUSSELS – Facebook and Instagram in Europe shall be downgrading their video streaming quality in response to EU’s call to stave off internet gridlock. This is a result of thousands of people working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Disney earlier this week announced that they would downgrade their video quality.
European Union industry chief Thierry Breton urged streaming platforms to free up bandwidth for those in the healthcare sector and for those who were participating in distance learning for children who were sent home after school closures.
European telecoms operators have been reassuring networks that they will be able to cope with the rise in data traffic. However, there are congestion fears with more people choosing to work at home.
“To help alleviate any potential network congestion, we will temporarily reduce bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram in Europe.”
– Facebook spokesman
The move shall be in place until the time there will be internet gridlock concerns.
Netflix and YouTube will be cutting their picture quality for 30 days while Disney plans to lower its overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25% in all of the European countries launching Disney+ next week.
Streaming videos account for two-thirds of traffic on fixed and mobile networks.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
