COVID-19 outbreak: Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, Hotstar asked to lower streaming quality to ease internet burden

New Delhi: Industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to the telecom department and over-the-top (OTT) companies such as Netflix, Hotstar, Voot, and Amazon Prime Video to lower the streaming resolution to reduce the burden on the networks in the wake of people staying at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In its letter to the market players, the telecom industry body noted that in the past few days, government advisories have been issued to stay indoors and work from home and the role of digital means of communications, transactions, and entertainment increases.

“We believe that during this critical time, it is absolutely essential for the streaming platforms to cooperate with TSPs to manage traffic distribution patterns which are likely to strain network infrastructure at a time when it is needed for various critical requirements,” COAI said in a letter to OTT platforms.

The body also called for lowering streaming quality to Standard Definition (SD) from High Definition (HD). According to ET Telecom, COAI has requested the same to OTT players like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Hotstar.

Reliance Jio, meanwhile, has launched double data offer to millions of prepaid customers. Broadband players such as ACT Fibernet and BSNL have introduced special work from home schemes for the fixed line users.