This report summarizes the main findings of an ongoing weekly data collection exercise and includes the most recent data provided to BEREC by its constituent NRAs (National Regulatory Authorities) as of 28 April 2020. 312 NRAs have shared their data on the impact of the crisis on telecom networks and the measures taken so far in their respective Member States.

Eight NRAs have provided updates on the situation in their Member State since the previous data collection exercise (23 April 2020). The status report will continue to be updated based on regular contributions from NRAs, and the next summary report will be published on 8 May 2020.

Consult previous iterations of this summary report for more details on some of the first measures implemented by NRAs during the crisis.

Key updates since the previous report

• One ANR (BG) has explicitly reported a slight increase in overall Internet traffic compared to the previous week due to the Easter holiday period;

• An ANR (IT) observed a slight decrease in mobile data traffic and confirmed a stabilization of fixed data traffic;

• Another ANR (LV) has reported that the overall traffic situation remains stable. The same observation has been explicitly confirmed by three ANRs (LT, MT, and SI). Of that group, one ANR (LT) has also highlighted that good service quality is being provided;

• Two ANRs (PL, PT) have observed a slight decrease in data traffic since last week.

BEREC has now returned to weekly summary reports, instead of twice-weekly reports, on the state of Internet capacity in Member States.

The following NRAs have contributed to the data collection exercises to date: AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, ME, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SI, SK, SE. NRAs from the following Member States reported a change since the previous data collection exercise: BG, IT, LT, LV, MT, PL, PT, SI.

Network capacity status.

Overall, traffic on fixed and mobile networks has increased during the Covid-19 crisis, but no major congestion issues have occurred. For more than five weeks, a growing number of ANRs (AL, AT, BE, CY, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, and SK) have been reporting a stabilization in overall traffic. In particular, one ANR (LT) has explicitly confirmed that internet traffic remains stable with good quality of service. A stable situation has also been explicitly confirmed by two other ANRs (MT and SI).

However, one ANR (BG) explicitly reported a slight increase in fixed and mobile data traffic compared to the previous week due to Easter (April 17-20, 2020). While another ANR (IT) confirmed a stabilization of fixed data traffic, it observed a slight decrease in mobile data traffic during the period of April 13-19, 2020, compared to the week of April 7-12, 2020.

For more than a week, an increasing number of ANRs (AT, BG, EL, PL, RO, SI) have detected a decrease in overall internet traffic from the peak reached after the start of the Covid-19 crisis. This trend suggests three phases in the evolution of traffic during the crisis: a sharp increase, stabilization, and a decrease from the peak. 

As a result, overall internet traffic is beginning to return to the more typical average levels of the period before the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Over the past two weeks, six ANRs (AT, DK, NL, PL, RO, SI) have explicitly reported an increase in traffic at IXPs (Internet Exchange Points) since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. Last week, one ANR (NL) reported a stabilization of traffic at the national IXP, while another ANR (PT) has now reported a slight decrease in interconnection traffic.

Regulatory actions taken

Network Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) are monitoring the situation and regularly collecting data from ISPs and other market participants on the status of their networks. The frequency of data collection varies from daily (ES, ME) to once (AT, BG, CY, DE, EL, HR, LT, IT, ME, MT, SI), twice (FR, HU, PL, SK), or three times (BE, LU) per week. One NRA (RO) reported that, due to a relatively stable situation, ISPs are requested to report general information once every two weeks. However, any major incidents should be reported as soon as possible.

In addition to regular reports, ISPs are also required to immediately notify ANRs of any exceptional measures implemented. This is particularly relevant for the implementation of any exceptional traffic management measures. One ISP informed its ANR (NL) that an exception process and network freeze had been implemented.

A National Network Authority (NNA) has explicitly reported the publication of statistics related to the use of its measurement tool. These statistics reveal a significant increase in tests performed by end users during the Covid-19 pandemic to verify their internet access speed.

Actions taken and communication by the operators.

An ANR (PT) reported that some operators reinforced the capacity of their networks.

In a Member State (LT), a mobile operator provided information about a temporary breach of network integrity in its network due to a server failure.

No new update has been provided to the customer-friendly measures implemented by the operators.