Over the span of four weeks, Peoples’ network has seen a spike in bandwidth usage of over 25% and is increasing daily. At times, the surge has seen a 30.4% increase. Although, our network is equipped to handle peak usage, we believe this trend will only continue and are taking steps to stay ahead of the demands on our network.
As the utilization in our overall network is increasing, it goes without saying that your personal networks are also feeling the impact of increased traffic within the walls of your home. With more people opting to work from home, schools closing and enlisting online studies and families looking for more ways to stay entertained while staying home, the demand on your home network can reach significant levels.
We understand how stressful it can be when facing the changes and challenges of our current situation and the last thing you need is a possible complication when connecting to the outside world. Here are a few tips to minimize the stress on your home network:
Increase your speed – sometimes a simple bump in speed can greatly improve your broadband experience. We are currently offering speed bumps at no additional charge through May.
Prioritize the connected devices in your home:
- Disconnect devices you aren’t utilizing. Even devices in sleep mode can be taking up bandwidth when updates are running in the background.
- Evaluate your video streaming activity – Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc. Streaming videos on multiple devices will impact work applications. Limit streaming activities during work hours to lessen the network strain.
- Stagger user time – trying to VPN but your teenager is on Xbox? Consider establishing set times for work and play rather than fighting over your bandwidth.
It’s an understatement to say we are facing times we’ve never seen before. But we truly believe, when we all stick together, we will make it through this current situation and be stronger on the other side.
Until then, be safe…and be kind…we are all in this together.