Basque families' new phone, Internet and TV usage patterns confirm their adaptation to the new phase of lockdown easing
Bilbao, 12 May 2020. In the ninth week of the health emergency and at the start of phase 1 of lockdown easing in the Basque Country, the data on telecommunications use is progressing in line with the population's new habits and routines.
Euskaltel's network maintenance services continue operating to ensure the best quality communications between people and companies. 800 Euskaltel network and technology professionals are continuously monitoring traffic and data flows to adapt the network to society's needs and use. This is all done to provide a good user experience to families, businesses and health and emergency services.
Changes in phone and data traffic during the state of emergency reveal how Basque people are gradually coming out of confinement in accordance with the new decrees that have been published.
Internet access shows a general increase in peak time traffic of 71% while accumulated traffic has risen over 110% with fixed data increasing in the morning due to, in particular, adults working from home. Euskaltel reports a 15% decrease in Internet access during peak times ¿hours of greatest simultaneous use, from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 12am¿ by Basque families, showing that individuals have now begun to leave home for sport, walks or to work. If this usage pattern remains, it would confirm a return towards normality.
This is because families connect to the fixed data network (using Wi-Fi) rather than the mobile network to surf the Internet, stream films, hold video conferences with family or friends, share network games and work from home.
There is also a slight reduction of 5% in mobile voice services during peak hours, while accumulated daily use has increased by 120% (more than double) compared to pre-confinement use. This reflects the way people have remained in touch with their families and friends.
Use of Whatsapp has increased by 300%, with no great change compared to the previous confinement stage. Video-conferencing tools (Whatsapp, Skype, Teams, Zoom, etc.) have seen exponential growth of 250% and landline use has also grown by 90%.
Euskaltel has also established that the average time spent watching TV is 5.22 hours a day, i.e. 44% more than usual, although one point less than a month ago. This is a result of people being able to leave home to walk and play with children in phase 0. Viewing of children's TV content has also increased 48%. Children's TV viewing in the 0-4 year age group has increased the most, where usage is 9 times higher than normal. Viewing hours for over 4-year olds have increased by 29% and pre-adolescents are watching 54% more TV than before.
The Euskaltel Group's systems and network teams continue working to guarantee a solid, quality network. Euskaltel is continually adapting its network to maintain telecommunications services and ensure a good user experience. Traffic is monitored 24x7 to identify peaks and to launch the necessary updates.
The company's network is operating normally and is dealing with these increases in traffic with no major incidents.
This extraordinary situation highlights and confirms the importance of investment in telecommunications services and the network infrastructures that support them; services and infrastructures that are now playing a strategic role in the health crisis.
Euskaltel - Communication Department
comunicacion@euskaltel.com