In a significant digital milestone, Openreach reports a 9% surge in broadband traffic across the UK throughout 2023, totaling a staggering 94,722 petabytes of data. To put this colossal figure into perspective, one petabyte equals a million gigabytes, and an average 4K movie stream consumes approximately 7.2 gigabytes per hour, as highlighted by Openreach.
The surge in data consumption can be attributed to various online events, with peaks coinciding notably with Amazon Prime’s Premier League coverage and major game releases such as Call of Duty. Unsurprisingly, December emerged as the busiest month, with Boxing Day claiming the title of the peak data consumption day, registering a remarkable 342 petabytes of data. This surge was fueled by the streaming of six exclusive Amazon Prime football matches available only online.
Trevor Linney, Director of Network Technology at Openreach, emphasized the pivotal role played by the network in keeping the UK connected throughout the year. Linney noted a discernible pattern in the annual reports, with live sports and gaming acting as the driving forces behind substantial spikes in data usage.
“Our network has once again performed the important role of keeping the UK connected throughout 2023, both at home and at work,” said Linney. “We’re seeing a real pattern starting to emerge in these annual reports, with live sports and gaming at the heart of huge jumps in data usage.”
Linney further highlighted the reliability and resilience of the Openreach network, emphasizing that it stands up to the test even during the busiest periods. The extensive reach of the Openreach network, servicing hundreds of broadband companies, provides a comprehensive understanding of the nation’s broadband landscape. The dedicated team at Openreach remains vigilant day and night, ensuring ample capacity to meet the demands of every digital eventuality.
