Global broadband usage -- in the wake of the Covid-19
virus issues -- is growing, the result of slowing and/or disruptions with bandwidth constraints, especially on mobile devices.
Last month, there was a massive 380% rise in videos downloaded
to 4.7 million versus March 2019, according to Penthera, a downloading technology firm for media and other companies.
There was nearly a 300% increase in the number of mobile devices
used to download content over that period, and a nearly 600% rise in total data from videos downloaded, versus March 2019, to more than 2.5 petabytes.
Before COVID-19, travel and commuting
were typical reasons for downloading activity. But Panthera says 80% of downloaded videos are played when a device is online. “That’s why, with stay-at-home orders in place, download
activity is up across all our verticals— entertainment and health & wellness — and globally.”
Looking specifically at fitness -- cause by the pandemic issues, due to the
closing of gyms/health clubs -- downloading devices increased activity by 50% in March 2020 versus March 2019.
Consumers -- worldwide -- spent a record 113 million hours in health
and fitness apps during the week of March 22.
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