NBN struggles amid surging demand

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Data demand among national broadband network (NBN) users has increased by up to 80% since lockdown measures began to implemented and more people started working from home. This has led to rising congestion on the NBN network, especially in Canberra and Melbourne, according to Monash University-linked company KASPR datahaus:

Canberra and Melbourne are experiencing the worst average internet congestion in the country, thanks to the sudden demands of the new work-from-home reality…

The NBN, which is now available to 95 per cent of Australian households, has seen data demand increase by more than 70 to 80 per cent during daytime hours, compared to figures calculated at the end of February.

Prior to COVID-19, the NBN network processed about 5 terabits per second (Tbps) from 8am to 5pm. On Friday, March 27, data demand peaked at 9.2Tbps…

“Between 8pm and 10pm, it has increased by around 15 per cent to 12.4Tbps, as of 9pm on Friday”…

Last week, Ookla Speedtest also showed that Australia’s broadband services maintained speed levels over March:

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While the NBN is clearly under strain, these are pretty good results given the circumstances. The NBN is holding up reasonably well so far.

About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.