The Internet Is Fine—for Now

Netflix says it will lower the quality of its video streams in Europe in an effort to preserve bandwidth for more essential online activities. But early data shows that most US broadband providers, and many elsewhere, are standing up to the surge in internet traffic generated by the many people stuck at home amid the Covid-19 pandemic. At least for now. 

According to internet analysis company Ookla, residential internet speeds in places like Westchester County (NY)—which has been hit hard by Covid-19—and San Francisco (CA) decreased between the week of March 2 and the week of March 9. Ookla CEO Luke Deryckx says the slower speeds might not have much to do with overloaded internet infrastructure. The problem could be closer to home. Entire families are sharing home Wi-Fi networks as kids turn to online learning resources, parents conduct meetings over Zoom, and everyone watches more video. It could simply be that home Wi-Fi routers are getting bogged down.