INFOGRAPHIC
Global data traffic volume hits new record-breaking high at internet exchanges
Traffic throughput has doubled since 2020 and increased 15 % in 2024 to hit a record high of 68 exabytes .
DE-CIX , one of the world ’ s leading Internet Exchange ( IX ) operators , has revealed another record-breaking milestone in the amount of global data traffic being exchanged at its locations in 2024 .
More than 3,400 connected networks exchanged over 68 exabytes of data traffic at DE-CIX ’ s locations around the world , corresponding to an increase of around 15 % compared to the previous year : In 2023 , this figure stood at 59 exabytes .
Global data traffic has more than doubled in the five years since 2020 , when the number was 32 exabytes – 68 exabytes equates to the amount of data that it would take to stream in high definition a football game that lasts for 2 million years .
While UEFA Champions League streaming is traditionally seen as the cause of data traffic records , in 2024 gamers became the new record-breakers .
At exactly 7pm UTC on November 20 , in a single second , global data throughput reached a one-off peak of 24.92 terabits per second ( Tbit / s ), the highest throughput for the year , in parallel to several gaming releases and updates from a range of providers .
Correlation of the timing suggests that the peak was induced by new releases such as S . T . A . L . K . E . R . 2 , as well as Microsoft ' s update to its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform , which allows gamers to stream select games from their own library to devices such as TVs , tablets and smartphones .
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