2021.01.08 – Open Broadband News

What did the UK ask Santa for? An extra helping of broadband please

UK internet use more than doubled in 2020, as people stayed home during the coronavirus pandemic. Boxing Day was the busiest day for broadband users, according to data from Openreach, which runs much of the UK’s broadband network.

Over the festive period, large parts of the country were put into tier four restrictions, and Christmas gatherings were limited. Live sport, online gaming and home-working all contributed to the boost.

Openreach said that this year:

• Openreach customers consumed 50,000 petabytes of data this year, compared to 22,000 in 2019
• Properties connected to its fiber broadband used, on average, nine gigabytes of data a day
• On Boxing Day, a record 210 petabytes was used on the network

“It’s been a year unlike any other and we believe that’s played a major part in this huge jump in data consumption,” said Colin Lees, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Openreach. “We know more businesses asked their employees to work from home throughout most of 2020, so connecting remotely has been and continues to be important for everyone.”

Out of this world! OTT TV subscriptions set to topple two billion by 2025

The number of over-the-top (OTT) TV and video subscriptions is set to rise to two billion globally by 2025, or 65% more than last year.

According to a new report by Juniper Research, the primary engine for this growth will be from traditional broadcasters, who are increasingly turning to streaming services in order to extend their reach and compete with online video giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Juniper Research’s report notes that, as subscription services become increasingly prominent, particularly in the US, different models will be needed to combat subscription fatigue. The report estimates that in 2020 there was an average of four Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) subscriptions per household in the US, but with growth slowing significantly from 2021.

“Thanks to this high level of market saturation, streaming providers need to keep their offerings competitive to retain subscribers,” said Nick Hunt, Co-author at Juniper Research. “Hybrid monetization is one way that VOD providers can keep their offerings low-cost, and therefore less likely to be dropped.”

Free data on the timetable for kids being homeschooled

UK internet providers are having to offer free data to schoolchildren as they struggle to get online to study at home. With the latest lockdown restrictions announced, the UK Government has been criticized for failing to provide schoolchildren with access to equipment and reliable internet connections that would allow them to study remotely.

A ‘digital divide’ among pupils means that many are unable to access or afford mobile devices or an adequate broadband connection, with technology firms being urged to do more to make data and devices available to those unable to afford to take part in remote learning.

On Monday, a letter sent to the Prime Minister from senior public figures including Former Education Secretaries and Former Prime Minister Tony Blair cites figures from Ofcom which estimate that between 1.14 million and 1.78 million children in the UK (9 per cent) do not have home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet, and that more than 880,000 children live in a household with only a mobile internet connection.

Staggering increase in 5G subscribers during 2020

Despite a global pandemic and economic challenges, the fifth generation of wireless 5G powered ahead at four times the speed of subscriber growth for 4G LTE, according to 5G Americas, the wireless industry trade association and voice of 5G and LTE for the Americas.

According to data provided by Omdia, the world added 225 million 5G subscribers between Q3 2019 and Q3 2020, a feat which required 4G LTE four years to attain. As of December 2020, there were 229 million 5G subscriptions globally, which represents an astonishing 66% increase over the last quarter and is expected to reach 236 million globally by the end of 2020.

“The emergence of fast low latency 5G networks comes at an important time as people have shifted to working remotely,” said Chris Pearson, President at 5G Americas. “This historical re-adjustment clearly demonstrates the need for continuous mobile connectivity as social and physical distancing requirements have changed how we work, live and play.”

COVID-19 relief bill includes $7 billion for broadband

The United States Congress has agreed on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, which lawmakers say will include $7 billion in broadband funding.

According to a joint statement released by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that $7 billion will cover “a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.”

The largest chunk of the bill is $3.2 billion in funding to provide a $50 monthly emergency broadband benefit for anyone laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, a measure introduced by Senator Ron Wyden in the original HEROES Act.

Also, according to reporting in Axios, the $7 billion includes $1 billion in grants for Tribal broadband programs and $300 million for rural broadband infrastructure grants.