Broadband Traffic Trends Highlight Upstream Growth

​Broadband consumption saw a significant milestone in Q3 2024, as upstream traffic grew at twice the rate of downstream traffic, according to OpenVault’s Broadband Insights (OVBI) report. Upstream traffic increased by 13.9% year-over-year, while downstream grew by only 6.8%, marking the lowest downstream growth since OpenVault began tracking it in 2017. Overall traffic rose 7.2%, reflecting a consistent shift toward user-generated content and evolving subscriber behavior.

A notable factor in upstream growth is the increasing activity of "extreme power users," those consuming 5 TB or more monthly. These users averaged nearly 1 TB of upstream data, with their overall usage growing 57% year-over-year. This trend is critical for cable operators, as traditional cable networks prioritize downstream traffic, making them less equipped to handle rising bidirectional demands.

The report emphasized the need for cable providers to address upstream constraints within the DOCSIS environment to maintain a high-quality user experience. As upstream traffic grows at more than twice the rate of downstream usage, network adaptability and continuous monitoring are essential.

Other insights from the OVBI report include disparities in data consumption across household income levels and sizes. Households earning under $50,000 annually exhibited the highest average monthly data usage (639 GB), despite having slower internet speeds. Data consumption ranged from 397 GB for single-person households to 1.125 TB for four-person households. Notably, urban and rural markets showed consistent speeds and usage, reflecting the impact of rural network upgrades.

Telecompetitor has a great article about the Open Vault report. CLICK HERE to check it out.