What’s happening: Just like that, our internet connection has become an umbilical to the outside world. We now depend on it to do our jobs, to go to school, and to see other people. It is our primary source of entertainment. And we’re using it a lot: traffic in the US has gone up by a quarter since January. The spike in demand is being taken seriously, with Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and the newly launched Disney+, all cutting the picture quality of streamed video in Europe.
How’s it coping?: It’s showing some signs of strain, but despite the odd hiccup, the internet is doing just fine. In fact, the covid-19 crisis is driving the biggest expansion in years. For example, to make sure they meet demand, internet giants like Netflix and Equinix, which operates 200 data centers around the world, are rushing out upgrades as quickly as possible.
What else?: There are still a handful of stumbling blocks that could slow the upgrade. For example, crucial parts of the internet still require a human touch. And the supply chain from China has been disrupted. But overall, the internet is emerging stronger than ever. Read the full story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
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