Coronavirus: COAI Seeks Lower Video Streaming Quality As People Work From Home

“We believe that during this critical time, it is absolutely essential for the streaming platforms to cooperate with telecom providers so as to manage the traffic distribution patterns which are likely to strain the network infrastructure at a time when it is needed for various critical requirements,” COAI wrote in a letter to the department of telecommunications (DoT), a copy of which was seen by Mint.

The telecom operators’ association has also written to 12 streaming platforms, which include Zee5, SonyLiv and Voot, to temporarily move to SD from high definition (HD) as more and more people stay at home.

The measure, if allowed, is likely to reduce the strain on the network, allowing more efficient use of it by people working from home. According to Netflix, watching or downloading television shows or movies on the streaming platform in SD uses about 1 GB of data per hour, while HD consumes up to 3 GB per hour.

Europe has taken a similar step, with the European Union government asking streaming websites to lower their streaming quality as a temporary measure to avoid straining networks.

The association has also asked streaming platforms to remove advertisements and pop-ups as they usually consume high bandwidth. If required, these may be replaced with public announcements on awareness regarding the virus, the association wrote to streaming platforms.

“It is pertinent to note that the need of the hour is that companies offering streaming platform services and TSPs (telecom service providers) take joint responsibility to take steps to ensure smooth functioning of the data communication networks to align with other measures being taken in this battle to curb the propagation of the virus,” COAI said.

Since the outbreak was first reported in December, India has so far reported 324 cases, including five deaths. Mumbai accounts for two deaths.

The spread of the outbreak has forced the central and state governments to undertake a number of measures, like asking offices to make their employees work from home, shut down malls and other places of social contact, reduce frequency of public transport and shutdown international traffic for a week. They have also urged people to practise social distancing to contain the spread of the virus.

World over, there are now more than 307,000 cases of infection in 184 countries since the pandemic started in China late last year. The global death toll has crossed 13,000 now.

—Livemint