COVID-19: Telcos report spike in data use in 9-11 am and 4-10 pm slots

After India went under a complete 21-day lockdown to fight COVID-19 pandamic, telecom companies are seeing a major change in the data usage patterns of users.

Data collected between March 10 and 25, shows the volume of data usage spiked between 9 am and 11 am in the morning, and then after 4 pm until 10 pm, Indian Express reports.

The telecom companies and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) appealed to over-the-top (OTT) and digital video streaming players to limit the streaming quality after the initial period of the lockdown.

Reports suggest that mobile data users are not facing any issues as far as speeds are concerned. To brace for the post-lockdown scenario, the three major telecom companies and COAI have asked the Department of Telecommunications to allocate additional access and backhaul spectrum.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary Anshu Prakash has personally called up heads of OTT and digital streaming players and sought their cooperation in limiting the transmission quality, reports The India Express.

The required spectrum allocations are likely to be done within the next week after the matter is vetted by top legal counsels of the government, a senior ministry official said, adding that there may not be an immediate benefit to the end user in the near term even if the spectrum is allocated.

The telecos have also been seeking permission for temporary tower sites called the ‘cell on wheels’.

(With inputs from agencies)