Wednesday, March 3, 2021

During Pandemic, Video Conferencing Data Consumption was Up 5%; Video Up As Much as 40%, Gaming Up as Much as 80%

Not that it matters--a bit is a bit--but Comcast reports that during the Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing, content consumption grew dramatically. Gaming downloads grew 20 percent to 80 percent in four months, while entertainment video demand grew 20 percent to 40 percent as well. 


source: Comcast 


One might think the demand was driven by people working or learning at home. It was not. You might think all of us using videoconferencing for work and learning drove consumption. It did not. All video conferencing usage represented less than five percent of data consumption. 


We were watching streaming services. 


source: Comcast 


It appears that with other recreational pursuits unavailable (movie theaters, concert venues, restaurants, bars, museums, sports arenas, parks, swimming pools, recreation centers), and with “stay at home” rules in place,  people were left to watch TV. 


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