Managing home broadband network capacity against a backdrop of unprecedented data demand

Data consumption on fixed networks has soared globally, as increased penetration of high-speed broadband has enabled users to stream and download growing amounts of content. While the shift to working from home has partly driven the increase, data-rich media such as video streams and gaming are the main culprits behind the surge in traffic and increased congestion during peak periods. The pandemic is largely responsible for the scale and ubiquity of these increases, but the elevated consumption shows a resilience that suggests there is a ‘new normal’ for data traffic, not just a lockdown spike. The trend shows no sign of reversing, with IPTV and FTTB/P penetration continuing to grow. Fixed operators will face the challenges of network capacity management with increasing intensity over the coming years.