So You’re Working From Home. Can the Internet Handle It?

[TravelTime]

Yet another problem for individuals and businesses trying to stay afloat by working from home. I know my business will be affected by this since we have been trying to move client meetings to online video platforms. In normal times, we experience problems with online video platforms so I imagine this week will be harder. Hopefully, good old phones still work.

So We’re Working From Home. Can the Internet Handle It? (Published 2020)

With millions of people working and learning from home during the pandemic, internet networks are set to be strained to the hilt.

www.nytimes.com

 

[pedro47]

Stop it let's not create another problem.

 

[bbodb1]

Thus far, so good.
As luck would have it, our ISP just recently upgraded their equipment.

 

[VacationForever]

No problem here. Most of us are retired anyway. I see maybe a small blip for people who are used to hanging out at social events to being stuck home in front of the television. Our friends are already panicking that if our golf course is closed and there are no sports to watch they will go nuts. I told them better to go nuts than to die from the virus.

 

[rhonda]

I was thinking of this, just for 3 minutes, yesterday as T-Mo sent me their COVID-19 update. Basically, they have joined the list of carriers waiving data caps and increasing tethering limits.
Story: https://9to5mac.com/2020/03/14/us-carriers-unlimited-data-coronavirus/

 

[bbodb1]

To add to Rhonda's point, we switched to Tmobile about 9 months ago. Slashed our bill by 40% and have not found too many holes in their coverage.
Considering we live in Arkansas (where Tmobile did not have all that large of a presence) they have done pretty well by us.

 

[SteelerGal]

No, there shouldn’t be any issues. I have a home and work vpn. The only issue I have had is a Microsoft upgrade didn’t take after an hour. So I will most likely have to go into work.

 

[DrQ]

I think the issue is going to be companies who buy VPN services from 2nd tier operators that buy capacity from other companies. When push comes to shove and the bandwidth starts drying up, the second tier operators may not be able to purchase more or be squeezed by performance limitations.

 

[klpca]

Three of us worked from home today. No problem at all.

 

[tompalm]

The only problem I see is that lots more people at home are streaming Netflix or Amazon Prime TV and using up the internet. But we are watching more than ever or about three hours a day and no problems. ISP companies have been increasing speed as standard service to 200 mbs charging more for faster service and the internet is capable of handling whatever you purchase. If You are having problems it might be equipment or service you are using.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Data Reveals the True Impact of the Coronavirus Outbreak.

Data Reveal the True Impact of the Coronavirus Outbreak

In some countries, satellite images, internet speed, and traffic information reveal what governments won’t.

www.wired.com

Richard

 

[pedro47]

With all the many categories of people working at home and now we add in all the students at home. Will their be an internet problem in the coming months?

 

[bbodb1]

Our local ISP had its first issue yesterday as an outage lasted for a couple of hours. Fortunately we were able to use our cell phone as a hot spot and were back up and running in no time.

Those of you who have smartphones, don't forget about this feature if you need it!

 

[Passepartout]

I was thinking of this, just for 3 minutes, yesterday as T-Mo sent me their COVID-19 update. Basically, they have joined the list of carriers waiving data caps and increasing tethering limits.
Story: https://9to5mac.com/2020/03/14/us-carriers-unlimited-data-coronavirus/

Our carrier sent out the same message. So I asked myself, 'SO why the data caps and upcharges for 'bigger data packages or higher speeds, anyway?' Well, look at who own's them. It's the telecom companies. Those data caps were purely artificial. It costs them nothing to increase speeds and eliminate caps. Pure prifit motive. They upcharged because they could. Period. Full Stop!

Jim

 

[rhonda]

Those data caps were purely artificial.

I disagree.

I live 100% on cellular data. I have no access to cable, DSL or fixed wireless. I switched from my long-held satellite internet to cellular-only about 2 years back.

While data caps and network management (speed limits; prioritization; etc) are used for upselling, and thus profit generation, they do serve a good purpose for the community. I don't mind that my neighbors (those sharing my tower) have "limits" on data consumption as it has kept my access fairly reliable. Since the removal of caps, my internet has been unstable and, yesterday, mostly useless. Other neighbors are reporting the same. While we rejoice that the cap is set aside, we suffer with less reliable connections and much slower speeds.

 

[Passepartout]

I disagree.
I live 100% on cellular data. I have no access to cable, DSL or fixed wireless. I switched from my long-held satellite internet to cellular-only about 2 years back.

I can sympathize. You can't expect a shared cellular connection to handle increased loads from multiple clients. My comments about artificial limits would pertain to the majority whose connection is wired (FIOS, Cable coax or even copper wire) from the provider's trunk line to their point of use (modem or router). My DW has canceled her office internet through the phone system, and just tethers her cell phone to access internet. It works for fairly light duty- email or browsing, but won't stand up to streaming or up- and downloading large art files.

 

[MULTIZ321]

88 out of top 200 U.S. cities have seen internet speeds decline this past week, 3 cities by more than 40% - TechCrunch.

88 out of top 200 US cities have seen internet speeds decline this past week, 3 cities by more than 40% | TechCrunch

The impacts of telecommuting, shelter-in-place laws and home quarantines resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak are starting to impact broadband speeds

techcrunch.com

Richard

 

[VacationForever]

No decline for us, but 90% of folks in our community are retirees anyway.

 

[davidvel]

Our carrier sent out the same message. So I asked myself, 'SO why the data caps and upcharges for 'bigger data packages or higher speeds, anyway?' Well, look at who own's them. It's the telecom companies. Those data caps were purely artificial. It costs them nothing to increase speeds and eliminate caps. Pure prifit motive. They upcharged because they could. Period. Full Stop!

Jim

Full wrong.
I'm not sure why you believe this. Of course it costs more to increase speeds, it requires more bandwidth, which requires more infrastructure.

Data is analogous to water, and bandwidth is like the size of the pipe. You can't supply more data at a higher speed to your customers without increasing the size of the pipe(s). Those pipes cost money, as does all of the supporting technology.

While the data may be relatively zero cost compared to everything else, the supply system has cost.

I am not saying what they charge is fair or reasonable, or not. Anyone is free to invest their own money in a competing system if they think it's so easy (and free) to supply more (or faster) data.

 

[MULTIZ321]

The entire world is streaming more than ever and it's straining the internet.

The entire world is streaming more than ever — and it’s straining the internet

Streaming platforms have never performed better, but the internet is under strain

www.theverge.com

.


Richard