Coronavirus: Netflix To Turn Down Streaming Quality In Europe To Avoid Internet Crash Amidst Lockdown

As millions of people confide to their house amidst Coronavirus lockdown in Europe, the usage of the Internet has sky-rocketed. The World Wide Web being the only recourse to connect with the outside world or entertain oneself with binge-watching at OTT platforms, there has been a huge surge in its use in a few weeks. Europe’s most popular OTT platform Netflix hence has decided to reduce the quality of its streaming in the sub-continent. 

According to a spokesperson of the streaming giant Netflix it will reduce bit rates for the video streams in Europe for 30 days that would affect the picture quality or smoothness and buffering speed of the shows. "We estimate that this will reduce Netflix traffic on European networks by around 25 percent while also ensuring a good quality service for our members," the statement from the spokesperson added.

European Union official Thierry Breton informed on Twitter that she has called content providers to skip high resolution and switch to standard definition feeds to aid better working of the network preventing a breakdown duw to overloaded.

Important phone conversation with @ReedHastings, CEO of @Netflix

To beat #COVID19, we #StayAtHome

Teleworking & streaming help a lot but infrastructures might be in strain.

To secure Internet access for all, let’s #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary.

— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) March 18, 2020

Netflix, however, has nor clarified if the bitrate reduction will be applied to other areas such as North America or India as well where people are asked to stay at home in self-quarantine to tackle the coronavirus pandemic with ease. 

Meanwhile Netizens who are finding only recourse in the virtual worlds slammed the steaming giant for cutting the streaming quality. 

Netflix will reduce streaming quality in Europe "to reduce strain on internet services". Shit just got real.

— Keith Nicholson (@K____Nicholson) March 20, 2020

Thanks #Netflix for lowering the quality of streams in Europe to help out the greedy ass ISPs while still charging customers the same amount during a crisis. Appreciate it...🤬🤬🤬

— MouzeyðŸÂ­â¤ï¸ÂðŸÂ» (@MadMouzeyGG) March 19, 2020

Netflix has unveiled a new logo just for Europe! pic.twitter.com/H3DmFsdTmt

— Michael Gillett | #WIMVP (@MichaelGillett) March 19, 2020

Also Read: Coronavirus Shutdown: Movies, Web Series You Can Binge On To Kill Time

Telecoms giant Vodafone and social media stalwart Mark Zuckerberg also reported a surge in use of Internet and the platform to stay connected with friends and colleagues amidst lockdown. Among all the European countries, Italy is the worst hit country, with a reported death of 475 people yesterday, succumbing to the coronavirus.