Belgian internet exchange BNIX processed less data year-over-year for the first time in 2022. Traffic declined as COVID-19 measures relaxed.
BNIX routes most of Belgium’s internet traffic. According to the exchange, data traffic averaged 198 Gbps last year. The figure is down 13 percent from 2021, when traffic averaged 224 Gbps and peaked at 638 Gbps.
Return to normal
BNIX cited the return to pre-pandemic levels as the most significant reason for the drop. Mandatory remote work, videoconferencing and streaming services drove high volumes of data traffic during the pandemic. Traffic declined as the threat of COVID-19 faded.
It’s worth mentioning that traffic remained 40 percent up from three years ago (160 Gbps). Remote work and videoconferencing are steadily gaining ground, driving traffic regardless of the pandemic. Companies increasingly use cloud services while consumers stream in ever higher resolutions.
Peaks
BNIX also noted a drop in evening peaks. Belgian traffic spikes between 8 AM and 10 PM. According to the exchange, this is probably due to cloud adoption among companies, as clouds generate a lot of traffic during this specific period.
Lastly, BNIX indicated that the highest traffic peak (480 Gbps) was recorded on November 9 at 5 PM, when a national strike took place on a Wednesday, which is a popular day for remote work on its own.
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