Access Networks Increasingly are All About Video

In North America, real-time entertainment is responsible for over 68 percent of downstream bytes during peak periods, compared to 65 percent six months ago, according to Sandvine. 

Netflix continues to be the traffic leader, accounting for 32.3 percent of downstream traffic during peak periods. YouTube accounted for 17.1 percent of downstream traffic in the first half of 2013.

YouTube is the leading traffic generator on mobile networks, accounting for 27.3 percent of downstream traffic. Video and audio streaming applications will account for over 60 percent of mobile usage by 2018, Sandvine projects.