By
December 04, 2023
Peak hour traffic isn't just limited to our roads, it's also something that is keenly felt on our broadband networks. It’s a very real consequence of our insatiable appetite for all things online. And as 8pm approaches, New Zealanders across the country are settling in to watch their favourite shows, catch up on the news, flick on the gaming console or hunker down to do homework.
Why does network congestion happen?
A big driver for the growth in data use on our broadband networks in the evenings, is our viewing habits, with constantly growing demand for video streaming services like Netflix. In fact for the first time ever, recent research by NZ On Air confirmed Linear TV no longer attracts the biggest audience during the traditional peak time of 6pm-10.30pm. The research also confirming what many of us think already, that New Zealanders are now officially spending more time using digital media than traditional media.
It's not just the type of TV media being consumed but it’s also the number of devices per household which is growing according tot the World Broadband Association, with people doing more gaming, browsing and other things online.
The impact of peak hour on internet speeds
The more devices connected to a network, and the more media being consumed at peak times, sees more data needing to be transported on the same number of lanes on the data highway of a broadband service. This can lead to a similar situation as the dreaded rush hour vehicle jam-ups and congestion common on commutes.
To avoid that happening, reliability at the busiest times of day should be a key consideration when you’re looking at broadband types and plans. Another is capacity or the amount of bandwidth a broadband service provides.
The impact of not having a reliable broadband or insufficient bandwidth can mean a slowdown in internet speeds at peak times.
![Winter Report September 2023](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Netflix%2C%20etc.png)
What does this mean when shopping for a broadband plan?
The first thing is to check what type of network technology your broadband service uses, as there can be varying levels of reliability depending on what you go for.
At Chorus, we’re investing in our network to make sure our fixed line broadband networks (fibre and copper) stay congestion-free so they don’t clog up and slow down - even at peak times when everyone’s online.
Data travels differently over wireless broadband services and according to the September 2023 Measuring Broadband New Zealand report 4G wireless broadband plans have a bigger variation in download speeds at peak times versus non-peak times (33 Mbps to 45 Mbps), compared to the most popular fibre broadband service – Fibre 300.
The wireless plans tested also had the highest levels of latency compared to the other broadband technologies which affects “the responsiveness of real-time applications such as interactive webpages or video calls” according to the report.
The second thing to look out for, is to ensure your broadband service has enough bandwidth. Fibre, come in a range of bandwidth options, with 300Mbps plans now making up 68% of all fibre connections, with approximately 30% of new connections being 1Gbps connections.
The benefit of having plenty of bandwidth is plain to see when it comes to streaming services, with over 99% of fibre broadband plans tested in the September 2023 Measuring Broadband New Zealand report, being able to support 1-2 simultaneous UHD Netflix streams.
Compare this with the 4G fixed wireless broadband plans tested which have less speed options and only 60% of plans tested were able to do the same.
See what you can get at our broadband checker and then give your broadband provider a call. Also, don’t forget to visit our broadband tips for advice on getting the most out of your broadband and best practices for your home set-up.
1. https://www.nzonair.govt.nz/research/where-are-the-audiences-2023/
2. Chorus FY22 Full Year Results “investor presentation”
3. MBNZ Winter Report 2023
4. Chorus FY22 Full Year Results “investor presentation”
LA-KC-10.23