Internet Speed May Slowdown On High Traffic

Brace for not being able to watch movies in high definition or for slower speed while downloading or streaming your favourite over the top (OTT) platforms. At least for a while. And blame it on coronavirus.

- Surajeet Das Gupta

Three OTT players have responded positively to the request by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAT) to reduce bandwidth. The request was made to lessen the pressure on telecom networks that are overloaded with extra traffic generated by the lockdown from the coronavirus.

Out of the 11 streaming video companies that COAI wrote to, Disney’s Hotstar, Zees5, Viacom 18 and its Voot brand have agreed to reduce bitrates so that telecom networks are under less pressure.

The letter, sent a few days ago, asked OTT players to move to standard definition instead of high definition streaming and to remove advertising and pop ups which usually consume high bandwidth.