23.04.2020

The data collected by ANCOM show that, as of mid-April, the increases in internet and voice traffic tend to remain steady, with fixed internet traffic having grown by approximately 28% and mobile internet traffic by 4%. Mobile voice traffic has seen average growth by approximately 10%, while fixed voice traffic increased by 6% on average, compared to end-February 2020.

“Voice and data traffic volumes are going up, given the intensive implementation of teleworking, e-learning for school and university students, and the significant take-up of online entertainment, in the context of the social distancing or self-isolation measures, which led to changes in consumer behaviour. Thus, Romanians staying at home have started to use the Wi-Fi connection of their home router for voice or data on mobile devices, rather than the mobile internet, which explains a steeper upward trend in data traffic on the fixed networks and a flattened curve in the use of mobile internet. After an internet traffic surge in March, we are currently seeing this increase stabilized at relatively high levels, which Romanian networks can support and manage more effectively due to the extensive deployment of fibre optic, unlike networks from many other states that are more advanced in various domains, but still rely on a large amount of copper lines at national level", stated Eduard LOVIN, ANCOM vice-president.

Data from the providers

The providers reported data traffic increases of approximately 4% in the mobile networks. On the other hand, data traffic increased by a significant 28% in the fixed networks, falling into the range of average growth rates registered at global level in the first month of COVID-19 pandemic (25-30%).

According to the estimates, voice traffic increased by approximately 10% on mobile networks and by 6% on the fixed networks. The peak interval for calls shifted during working days from evening to mid-day hours (11-12).

Furthermore, all the analysed traffic categories, except mobile data traffic, witness higher growth rates than the ones registered in the previous semesters.

Upon ANCOM’s request, the largest providers reported the average traffic increases registered in early April (in the week 6-12 April), taking as a point of reference (normal level) the last week of February, when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Romania (25 February 2020).

Ensuring the uninterrupted provision of communications services

Given the users’ changing demand patterns, network operators and online content providers have taken steps to manage traffic as efficiently as possible, ranging from better codecs and more efficient encryption protocols to various rules for better traffic management, especially during traffic peaks. At European level, major video streaming providers have reduced the quality of video transmission to avoid network congestion and sustain service continuity for the users.

In Romania, to ensure service continuity in case of increased data traffic, the providers have taken measures to monitor more effectively the available network capacity and to intervene where necessary, as well as measures to upgrade network equipment, and to simplify and speed up the procurement process, and measures regarding the optimization of technical resource use. Currently, the networks in Romania can support and manage efficiently the demand increase, so the users could keep enjoying communications services in good connectivity parameters.

ANCOM will constantly monitor the situation and the measures taken by the providers to ensure the proper functioning of the public electronic communications networks and services, the network load levels and congestion cases.