Nationwide shutdown: Bandwidth usage goes up 11% in 2 weeks

Country's overall internet bandwidth usage has increased by 11 percent in the last two weeks as users are at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on April 9 that country's total internet bandwidth usage was 1,557.8 Gbps, 11.29 percent up from March 25, just before the government declared shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Jabbar shared the information on his verified Facebook page yesterday.

On March 25, the country's total bandwidth usage was about 1,400 Gbps and only in 15 days it reached 1,558 Gbps, the minister said.

Industry insiders said though usage reached 1,558 Gbps, wholesale bandwidth sales reached 1,750 Gbps.

They said people are now spending more time on Facebook, YouTube and video calling.