Study: Netflix Now 33% of Peak Downstream Internet Traffic in U.S.
Though Netflix has hit a rough patch, its customers continue to stream more video than ever -- with the company alone now accounting for 32.7% of peak downstream traffic in the U.S., according to a new study from bandwidth-management vendor Sandvine.
Among fixed networks in the U.S., streaming video is the primary driver of network capacity requirements, representing 60% of peak downstream traffic, up from 50% in 2010. Netflix accounted for 20% of peak bandwidth consumption in the U.S., according to Sandvine's fall 2010 study.
In the fall 2011 Sandvine study, YouTube videos generated 11.3% of peak downstream traffic. That's despite the fact that the majority of broadband users (83%) use YouTube compared with 20% who use Netflix.
Netflix this week said it lost 800,000 U.S. subscribers -- more than anticipated -- following a change in plan pricing that raised prices for many members by 60%. As of the end of September, the company had 21.5 million streaming and 13.93 million DVD subscribers domestically.
Click here to read the full story at Multichannel News.
The smarter way to stay on top of broadcasting and cable industry. Sign up below