Spanish Operators have jointly announced that both fixed and mobile telecommunications networks in the country are experiencing a traffic explosion in recent days as a result of Covid-19 and the measures and recommendations derived from it.
In general terms, traffic through IP networks has experienced increases of nearly 40% while mobile use has increased by about 50% in voice and 25% in data. Likewise, traffic from instant messaging tools such as Whatsapp has increased fivefold in recent days.
The increased use of teleworking has also been reflected in the network: the traffic of remote work tools such as Skype and Webex has increased fourfold.
The network operators -Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Grupo Masmovil and Grupo Euskaltel- have critical equipment watching over the network 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are taking measures to reinforce their networks similar to those implemented, for example, in coastal areas in summer.
These include measures of geographical redundancy for the centres from which the services are managed, diversification of technical means or operational plans for diverting activity to provide services from other locations or remotely.
Operators are doing everything possible to increase the capacity of the networks by putting more equipment into service and increasing the capacity of existing equipment, but these measures are not immediately effective. Therefore, in order to guarantee the quality of service and excellent connectivity that is necessary, all these improvements must be accompanied, especially now, in the new situation of isolation throughout the country, by a smart and responsible use of the network and the resources it provides.
The Operators are requesting users to delay downloads and other leisure tools, video games, streaming, live video playback to the off-peak hours (between two and four in the afternoon and between eight in the evening and eight in the morning).
