Social networks are joining streaming services in reducing video quality to help European networks deal with demand from people staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, Netflix, Alphabet Inc’s YouTube, Amazon and Disney said they would downgrade their video quality.
EU industry chief Thierry Breton has urged streaming platforms to free up bandwidth for healthcare and distance learning for thousands of children sent home by closing schools.
While European telecoms operators say their networks have been able to cope with the data traffic rise so far, there are fears of congestion as more and more people work at home.
Many users are turning to video chat to keep in touch with people they’d otherwise meet in person, for instance. While this is unpleasant news if you’re a social media fan, it might help people work from home and otherwise get the internet services they expect.
“To help alleviate any potential network congestion, we will temporarily reduce bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram in Europe. We are committed to working with our partners to manage any bandwidth constraints during this period of heavy demand, while also ensuring people are able to remain connected using Facebook apps and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
