Coronavirus: NBN meet with Telstra, Optus over impact on network demand

The network is facing unprecedented demand as more Australians need to access online from home amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As more Australians stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak, the NBN faces an unprecedented test, with new figures showing demand on the country's key digital network is already ramping up.

On Saturday, network traffic was up by more than 5 per cent compared to the weekend before and retail service providers will be allocated increased data capacity to accommodate the expected growth in network demand.

The network could be pushed to its limits as more people work from home on connections not designed for activity that would normally be sent over faster enterprise business plans.

In a statement released yesterday, NBN CEO Stephen Rue said: “For many Australians, the NBN and other broadband and mobile networks will become the primary channel for work, study, entertainment, ordering food and maintaining contact with the outside world.”

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NBN has been studying cases overseas where the coronavirus has already had a bigger impact and looked at how the system can be prepared for the predicted surge.

NBN chief customer officer Brad Whitcombe said there were challenges in working from home on residential plans.

“Most home internet plans are used primarily to download (web browsing, movies, music) and as such have great download speeds. But when it comes to working from home you may have a greater need for uploading large files or joining Skype calls, so speak with your internet retailer to make sure your plan has the upload speeds you need to work from home,” he said in a statement Monday.

He said the NBN is “ready to add additional capacity as required”.

Social distancing and self isolation is also pushing people to stay at home and entertain themselves, streaming content rather than going out in public or to events after the ban on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people kicked in on Monday.

Even before coronavirus, video streaming had been denting the network’s capabilities.

Earlier this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported downloads on the network increased 47 per cent last year, partially spurred by “rapid take-up of streaming services such as Netflix, Stan, Optus Sport and Kayo Sports”.

Peak night-time periods when more people are at home and streaming on the network already lead to significant slowdowns due to congestion on the network.

The NBN said this is because some telcos don’t purchase enough capacity to adequately serve their customers, not because the network can’t handle it.

It added that during the day network traffic is around half of what it is during the evening peak, giving some overheard for the predicted surge.

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The NBN has been studying overseas outbreaks in an attempt to predict how data demand will change.

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Add to the mix more people working from home, university lectures potentially moving online and those on mandatory self-isolation after entering Australia from overseas, and there’s potential those “peak periods” could instead become the new normal.

Large companies like Telstra and Vodafone have already told staff to work from home and the NBN itself has also told staff with the ability to work from home that they can do so.

Contractors and field technicians continuing the rollout of the NBN, which was due to finish at the end of June, will also have new procedures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.

NBN contractors and field technicians have been issued new instructions.

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Technicians will now call ahead to verify there’s no suspected risk of transmission and reschedule if an occupant is in isolation.

Contractors are also being given additional hygiene instructions as well as being provided face masks, alcohol wipes, soap, and disposable gloves.

“With more people working, studying and generally spending more time at home streaming content, we are seeing a change in the profile of data traffic on the NBN, with increasing residential usage of the network throughout the day and in the busy hours (7-11pm),” the company in charge of building the national broadband network said in a statement on the weekend to the Australian Financial Review.

The company added it’s “actively working with retailers to ensure we optimise the network to support Australians in anticipation of unprecedented demand,” but “as always” customers would have to talk to their telco, who purchase wholesale access to the network and sell it on.

Last month, Telstra announced it would stop doing that for the majority of Australians who wanted to connect to the highest speed consumer plans.

Some telcos, including Telstra, are offering unlimited downloads for those on limited plans.

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That’s because only some people are able to access fibre-to-the-premises or hybrid-fibre-coaxial connection, and the other technologies used on the network can’t always provide those speeds.

Aussie Broadband told customers Tuesday morning it would allow the “few remaining” on the lowest tier 12Mbps down/1Mbps up plans to upgrade to a more capable plan free of charge by Wednesday.

It also said it would provide unmetered data between 6am-6pm and stop all service suspensions (with the caveat that it might still suspend customers if they abuse the company’s staff or network).

NBN CEO Stephen Rue said it’s important the national broadband network rises to the occasion.

“The NBN is part of Australia’s critical infrastructure, and the role of the network has never been more important than now and what we see unfolding over the weeks ahead,” he said in a statement Monday.

He said the whole telecommunications industry will work together to keep Australians “connected and productive”.

“We are actively working with retailers and have the complete support of our government stakeholders to ensure we do everything possible to optimise the NBN to support the expected increase in residential use.”

Have you started working from home? How is your internet handling it? Let us know in the comments below.