RouteThis: Device Overload Overwhelming Bandwidth in UK and Ireland
Connection speeds up by 185%, but increase in smart devices during
COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant access issues for Internet users
Based on analysis of live data
from nearly 3,000 Internet Service Providers (ISP) around the world, RouteThis, a global leader in remote Wi-Fi
network diagnostics and troubleshooting for ISPs and smart home brands,revealed that Internet users in the UK and Ireland are facing significant
connectivity issues despite increases in connection speeds. Upstream speeds
have risen 185% and downstream speeds have risen 167%, but device upgrades and
pandemic-related behavioural shifts have put greater demands on home Wi-Fi
environments.
Jason Moore, CEO of RouteThis, says, “Every new device added to a home
network comes with new requirements and increases the opportunity for a poor
subscriber experience. Once a home network hosts more than six or seven
devices, it’s likely that at least one device will suffer from a bad
connection. Today, that is a common number because people have so many smart
devices ranging from doorbells to electric car charging stations in their
homes.”
Because up to half of support engagements for ISPs can be traced back to
problems with the home Wi-Fi setup, rather than with the lines or equipment
itself, ISPs can dramatically reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction by
helping to prevent these problems, and by diagnosing and resolving them more
efficiently. According to RouteThis data, about 25% of diagnostic scans reveal
that there is a less congested Wi-Fi channel available and 30% indicate an
underlying problem of signal strength, even if there are no issues with the
home Internet connection.
"One of the biggest challenges that ISPs face
is supporting their customers with these types of issues on top of the diverse
set of CPEs," Moore says. "UK ISPs have by and large put fantastic
CPEs into their customer homes, but challenges remain around educating
customers on Wi-Fi, and this remains one of the biggest drivers of expensive
support calls and unnecessary technician visits."
Source: RouteThis media announcement
