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1-Gig and 1 terabyte users continue to climb Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading, 2/12/2021 Email This Print Comment Login 50% 50% It's no secret that overall broadband data consumption has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new study from OpenVault shows that "power users" – those who consume at least 1 terabyte of data per month – have almost doubled. According to OpenVault's Broadband Insights Report (OVBI) for Q4 2020, 14.1% of weighted average subscribers consume over 1 TB per month, up 94% from 7.3% in Q4 2019. FRB: Flat-rate billing UBB: Usage-based billing Click here for a larger version of this image. Meanwhile, "extreme power users" – defined as broadband customers who chew up at least 2 TB per month – now represent 2.2% of all subs, a 184% increase from from OpenVault's Q4 2019 study. OpenVault's study also found that average, monthly weighted usage topped 482.6 gigabytes in Q4 2020, up from 344 GB (+40%) in the year-ago quarter, and up nearly 26% from Q3 2020. The Q4 2020 average climbs to 496.6 GB among broadband subs on flat-rate (unlimited) billing policies, and drops to 472.3GB among those on capped, usage-based plans. FRB: Flat-rate billing UBB: Usage-based billing Click here for a larger version of this image. Over half (53.6%) of all subscribers in the study now routinely consume more than 250 gigabytes of data each month. OpenVault called that an "important benchmark," considering it placed 250 GB monthly users in the power user category just a few years ago. Among other findings, OpenVault said 8.5% of broadband customers are now provisioned for speeds of at least 1 Gbit/s, up 301% from 2.8% in Q4 2019. Meanwhile, average upstream bandwidth usage in December 2020 reached 31 GB, a 63% increase over the year-ago period. This upward trend has caused cable operators to prioritize capacity needs for the upstream on their widely deployed hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) netoworks, spurring them to pursue "mid-split" or "high-split" upgrades that boost the amount of spectrum dedicated to the upstream. According to OpenVault, here's how overall usage trends compared in 2020 versus 2019: Click here for a larger version of this image. OpenVault's study is based on anonymized, aggregated traffic generated by its ISP customer base, with results largely focused on the company's US customers. The latest batch of results emerge as broadband service providers are under increased pressure to pull back or curtail their deployment of usage-based data policies and data caps during a pandemic that has amplified the critical need for connectivity. Related posts: Minim debuts broadband data tracker Comcast postpones data cap fees in the Northeast Pressure builds for FCC to bring back net neutrality rules — Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading A version of this story first appeared on Light Reading. comments		Latest Articles Pressure builds for FCC to bring back net neutrality rules Network neutrality advocates want the FCC to open a proceeding to reinstate broadband as a Title II service amid a pandemic that has amplified the need for broadband connectivity, particularly for low-income households. Comcast doubles download speeds for 'Internet Essentials' Downstream speeds for broadband offering for low-income households rise to 50 Mbit/s, while upstream increases to 5 Mbit/s. Comcast will also accelerate rollout of Wi-Fi 'Lift Zones' for students. Rogers posts cable, IPTV sub gains in Q4 Big Toronto-based cable and wireless provider continued to add more broadband and IPTV customers in Q4 to at least partly offset weaknesses in its wireless and media units. Mass. lawmakers seek temporary ban on data caps, service shutoffs Bill would prevent ISPs from turning off service for customers facing hardships, raising fees and implementing data caps for up to 60 days after the pandemic. Google Fiber ramps reach of 2-Gig service Expansion of new $100 per month service to Atlanta and Utah follows earlier rollouts in Nashville and Huntsville. 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Plus, find out the best practices that operators are employing as they leverage the latest in passive optical technology to future-proof their networks. Topics to be covered include: Node + 0 (Fiber Deep) DOCSIS 3.1, DOCSIS 4.0 (FDX/ESD) FTTP and 10G PON XGS-PON, NG-PON2 Provisioning 10G PON within a DOCSIS B/OSS environment More Webinars Webinar Archives Partner Perspectives - from our sponsors The 'Agile Titan' – an Advanced Supplier Model to Meet the Needs of 21st Century Networks By Josh Hirschey, General Manager, Amphenol Broadband Solutions and Mette Brink, General Manager, Amphenol Procom & Amphenol Antenna Solutions EMEA & APAC Evolving unlicensed 5G applications: Closing the divide in mobile and last-mile connections By Sivers IMA What Service Providers Should Know About WiFi 6 By Greg Owens, Senior Director, Product Marketing, Calix Turning the Keys to State-of-the-Art 5G mmWave By Sivers IMA Necessity Is the Mother of Invention By Mark Weller All Partner Perspectives