Standard Definition Is The New Normal In EU
March 21, 2020The Coronavirus pandemic has become a global health problem. Since a vaccine is still not yet available, the only alternative is to try and suppress the spread of the virus. The most effective method, which was proven successful in China, is mass quarantines.
As a result, most countries have initialized some form of lockdown, forcing the closure of businesses, schools and colleges. This has resulted in an unprecedented number of people working from home. Some regulators worry that this could eventually take a toll on the current network infrastructure.
According to an Article by Reuters, YouTube has joined Amazon and Netflix who have heeded the call by European Union industry chief Thierry Breton to reduce video streaming quality. Media consumption is said to account for a huge chunk of daily bandwidth, and a switch to SD could reduce the burden placed on countries’ internet infrastructure.
Important phone conversation with @ReedHastings, CEO of @Netflix
To beat #COVID19, we #StayAtHome
Teleworking & streaming help a lot but infrastructures might be in strain.
To secure Internet access for all, let’s #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) March 18, 2020
In the same article, YouTube stated that it is switching all traffic in the EU to standard definition as the default setting. This will be in effect for 30 days, but users still have the choice of manually adjusting said setting to a higher definition.
The Coronavirus also known as COVID-19, has caused major global disruptions. This has sent shockwaves that have rippled across many sectors. The cascading effect has pushed many countries toward the brink of a recession. These are trying times, especially for the technology sector.
Source: Reuters
