Netflix now accounts for 4.8% of European web traffic

Netflix now accounts for 4.82% of peak downstream traffic on European fixed-line networks, up from 3.44% in autumn last year, according to Sandvine.

The broadband network solutions firm’s latest ‘Global Internet Phenomena’ report for Europe and Asia-Pacific said that Netflix accounts for more than 20% of network traffic in the UK and Ireland, while in countries where it has recently launched such as Austria and France it already accounts for approximately 10% of peak downstream traffic.

“Netflix is planning additional European expansion once again this October, with subscribers in Italy, Portugal, and Spain expected to be able to access the service for the first time. This continued expansion makes it a realistic possibility that Netflix will be among the top three applications on European networks in 2016,” said Sandvine.

The report currently ranks Netflix as the sixth-largest source of downstream web traffic at peak times of the day in Europe, behind services like YouTube with a 24.44% share, Facebook at 7.56% and BitTorrent at 6.07%.

YouTube was also found to be the top mobile application in both Europe and Asia-Pacific, making it the global leader in mobile traffic, while videogame-themed video site Twitch now counts as top-10 application for the first time in Europe.

Elsewhere, Apple Music, bolstered by a three-month free trial, surpassed Spotify as the leading music streaming service on mobile networks in Australia and New Zealand.

“The impact that Netflix’s and Apple’s expansion has had on networks in Europe and Asia should attract the attention of operators around the globe,” said Sandvine CEO, Dave Caputo.

“With Netflix announcing their intention to expand to over 200 countries by the end of 2016 and Apple’s Music service gaining popularity, every operator will have to think about how to deal with the increased demand these services will place on their network, and the types of service plans that would best suit subscribers’ needs.”