Virgin Media reports biggest download day on record

Virgin Media recorded its biggest download day on record, with the average user downloading 20.77GB of data in a 24 hour period, nearly 3.5GB more than the already record breaking daily average of 2020.

The reason? The latest Call of Duty: Warzone update.

For the first time ever, the service provider reports the weekday peak for upstream traffic is now 2-4pm, based on new analysis of more than five million broadband customers. During this period, upstream traffic has increased three-fold on pre-pandemic levels and is up 35 per cent since the first lockdown, suggesting households across the country are better set up to embrace flexible working and home learning this time round.

Virgin Media customers also downloaded 3.1GB more data per day in lockdown three compared to the first lockdown.

New analysis of more than five million Virgin Media broadband customers across January and February reveals a marked shift in behaviour, with weekday afternoons becoming the busiest time of day for upstream traffic for the first time ever. Upstream traffic, driven mainly by video calling, sending emails and uploading documents, has increased during weekday afternoons faster than at any other time of day.

The service provider reports that traditional voice calls, which saw an initial surge during the first lockdown before quickly returning to normal, remaining steady.

Download traffic has increased during the third national lockdown. Throughout January and February, customers downloaded an extra 7.4GB of data per day when compared to the same time last year.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Virgin Media, said: “Our network is carrying more data than ever as consumers continue to adapt and embrace new technology that helps them work, learn, socialise and stay entertained from home. The news follows analysis released by Virgin Media in December, which showed that data usage in 2020 on the operator’s network was at its highest ever level.