Huge increases in demand for internet service
KCOM CEO SAYS REGION IS WELL-PREPARED FOR SURGE
INTERNET usage across Hull and the East Riding has increased massively on daytimes during the coronavirus lockdown.
New figures released by KCOM reveal a huge 45 per cent increase in usage across the day, with the biggest hike coming during the time when most people would usually be working away from home.
During peak periods, the firm says it is handling the equivalent of streaming 800 hours of Youtube videos every single second.
It comes after KCOM announced that its engineers are continuing to work to upgrade the city’s fibre network to ensure the availability of the internet to the public and authorities fighting Covid-19.
KCOM chief executive Dale Raneberg said: “During these unprecedented times it’s more important than ever that we are able to stay connected with our families, friends and work colleagues.
“That’s why our engineers have been continuing to work in the background to keep everyone online.
“Over the past month I have been speaking regularly with the Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden, and the Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman, and we are following all government guidance for the sector to continue to build and maintain the network while observing safe work practices.
“Our engineers have had to train in safe working practices and ensure they’re wearing appropriate PPE, which hasn’t been easy to source, but we have kept our teams in the field helping to provide new services where needed, prioritising support for vulnerable customers and keeping everyone connected.”
To accommodate the rise in demand, KCOM engineers have increased network capacity and installing new stores of locally held content for major streaming channels such as Disney Plus, Netflix and Amazon.
These allow customers to continue to receive highest possible definition content currently available.
This means customers can gain access to the latest shows or game updates from a local source and don’t have to compete with internet users in the rest of the UK trying to gain access to distant, congested servers run by the major content providers.
Tim Shaw, KCOM’S chief technology officer, said: “We have seen an incredible increase in demand as people are staying at home to help defeat the coronavirus and this is where our investment in a full fibre network is really paying off.
“There isn’t anywhere else in the country as well-equipped to deal with the surge in demand for streaming and downloading services as Hull and the East Riding.
“Our fibre network is enabling people to work from home and children to keep up with their schoolwork online with minimal interruptions, buffering or the dreaded spinning circle of death.
“The increase in usage we’re seeing is unprecedented.
“We have seen a massive 87 per cent increase in file transfers, which includes things such Xbox downloads and updates, a 21 per cent increase in people streaming media on services like Netflix and Amazon and a 73 per cent uplift in people using messaging services and social media as they keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues.”
Last month KCOM announced it was removing all data usage caps to remove worries about exceeding limits for families and workers staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.