Auckland lockdown drives Chorus network data surge

Chorus data traffic spikes as Auckland enters Level 3

Downstream data traffic own the Chorus network peaked at 1.75Tbps on Monday when Auckland entered a temporary Level 3 Covid lockdown. On Tuesday it reached 1.63Tbps.

Monday's nationwide traffic was 55 percent higher than Tuesday the week before. That's the nearest direct comparison. Monday the previous week was a public holiday.

Auckland is the front line

Almost all the extra traffic could be attributed to Auckland which was up 96 percent on normal level. The rest of New Zealand was 13 percent higher than a normal workday.

Upstream data traffic increased by 41 percent nationwide and 61 percent in Auckland. This shows an increased use of video conferencing.

Another indicator of the importance of video conferences came in the form of small bursts of extra activity every half hour as online meetings started.

While this week's data traffic showed huge surges compared with recent weeks they came nowhere near the highs experienced last year when New Zealand first went into lockdown. At that time data traffic peaked at a fraction over three terabits per second.

NZ signs on to Budapest Convention on Cybercrime

New Zealand is joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime. This is sometimes known as the Budapest Convention. A statement from Kris Faafoi, the justice minister, and David Clark, the minister for the digital economy and communications David Clark says this was a recommendation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terror attack.

A total of 65 states from around the world has joined the Budapest Convention. It addresses online crimes and cyber attacks along with other serious crimes that use computer network including fraud and material that exploits children. It also covers violent extremist content.

Vodafone expands mobile network with 250 new or upgraded sites

Vodafone says it has accelerated its investment programme for 2021, a move that will see more than 250 cell sites built or upgraded. As part of the network build, it will add 5G coverage to Tauranga and Palmerston North.

Chorus brings fibre-backed 4G to rural West Coast

A new cell tower eight kilometres west of Fox Glacier township in the first fibre connected 4G site. It covers 20km of the Haast Highway. The site was built by Chorus and the Rural Connectivity Group as part of the second stage of the Rural Broadband Initiative. The build also extends the reach of the UFB fibre network to Haast township.

Netflix leads as two-thirds of New Zealanders stream TV

Roy Morgan reports 2.8 million New Zealanders watch subscription TV. It measured the number of people over the age of 14 watching during a four week period. This is two-thirds of all New Zealanders. Viewership climbed 4.9 percent during the year. Netflix is the most popular service with 2.1 million viewers. Sky is in second place with 1.2 million. Newcomer Disney has 700,000 and is in third place.