Latest news with #datausage
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Verizon establishes dominance in data usage during big US event
Verizon seems to be one of the main carriers involved in some of the biggest sports events in the United States. The network operator signed multiple partnerships with NFL, IndyCar and other similar sports organizations in the past. Besides that, Verizon's network covers some of the most important sports events in the this regard, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 race represents a big milestone for Verizon when it comes to data usage and connection. The carrier announced that in just one day, inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a total of 172 terabytes (TB) of data was used on the Verizon network. Why is this important? Because it's more than it's been seen on Verizon 's network at this race and one of the highest data usage events the carrier has ever recorded. To support the claim, Verizon released some data for everyone to see, so here we go: Explosive 5G Growth : A staggering 74.6% leap in 5G UW volume of 61 TB inside the track over last year's race (43 TB), revealing how fans are embracing the speed and capacity of 5G. : A staggering 74.6% leap in 5G UW volume of 61 TB inside the track over last year's race (43 TB), revealing how fans are embracing the speed and capacity of 5G. Surging Overall Traffic : A massive 48.5% increase in total combined 4G and 5G UW data volume inside IMS, proving the network's capability to handle the intense demand. : A massive 48.5% increase in total combined 4G and 5G UW data volume inside IMS, proving the network's capability to handle the intense demand. High fan engagemen t: 15 TB of the 61 TB used inside the track was uploaded data, highlighting the high levels of fans sharing in real time. t: 15 TB of the 61 TB used inside the track was uploaded data, highlighting the high levels of fans sharing in real time. Surrounding Network Impact : Outside the track, more than 111 TB of data volume was used on the network, showing the event's broader impact. : Outside the track, more than 111 TB of data volume was used on the network, showing the event's broader impact. Combined Volume Growth : The combined data volume inside and outside the venue was nearly 172 TB – a 35% increase from last year's race day, demonstrating substantial year-over-year growth. Team Peske | Image credit: Verizon According to Verizon, the main reason behind this data explosion was this year's commercial activation of 5G Standalone at the IMS, which allowed fans to easily upload videos and share their experience in real time. – Andy Brady, President of Verizon Great Lakes, May 2025 The fact that Verizon 's network experienced a massive surge at the 2025 Indy 500, with 5G Ultrawideband (UW) right and center, and still managed to remain stable (or rather we hoped it did) is quite remarkable. For the sake of comparison, 172TB is the equivalent to more than 57 million digital photos (3 MB average). Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Google Gave Sites Little Choice in Using Data for AI Search
While using web site data to build a Google Search topped with artificial intelligence-generated answers, an Alphabet Inc. executive acknowledged in an internal document that there was an alternative way to do things: They could ask web publishers for permission, or let them directly opt out of being included. But giving publishers a choice would make training AI models in search too complicated, the company concludes in the document, which was unearthed in the company's search antitrust trial. It said Google had a 'hard red line' and would require all publishers who wanted their content to show up in the search page to also be used to feed AI features. Instead of giving options, Google decided to 'silently update,' with 'no public announcement' about how they were using publishers' data, according to the document, written by Chetna Bindra, a product management executive at Google Search. 'Do what we say, say what we do, but carefully.'
CNET
11-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Internet Costs Keep Climbing. Here Are 8 Easy Ways to a Lower Internet Bill
Reliable internet service doesn't come cheap. The average internet bill in America is about $78 a month -- and according to a recent CNET survey, Americans paid $195 more on their internet bill in 2024 than they had the previous year. Your internet bill can quickly add up, especially if your plan comes with regular price increases (which many do). While some internet providers are cheaper than others, you can still expect to pay a pretty penny for high-speed internet. Whether you use the internet for remote work, streaming your favorite shows, online gaming or keeping up with family, it's hard to live without a decent internet connection. We get it. To keep your budget in check and avoid overpaying for broadband, there are a few simple ways to achieve a lower internet bill. How to get a lower internet bill We'll go in-depth for each option, but in summary, here are your steps to achieving a lower internet bill. Closely examine your internet bill Evaluate how much speed you really need Minimize your devices when possible Explore low-cost internet options Research available competitors Use your own equipment Bundle your broadband Negotiate with your provider 1. First things first, closely examine your internet bill Before you can find ways to save, first figure out what you're actually paying. It's important to determine how much you pay for internet speed and your household's average monthly data usage. Are you getting a good cost per Mbps for the speed your household is using? Read the fine print from your most recent bills to calculate what your internet service provider is actually charging you. Be sure to also check out your ISP's broadband labels, which might explain some of those hidden fees on your internet bill. The Federal Communications Commission requires that ISPs disclose these details to their customers but sometimes those broadband labels are either buried on an ISP's website or not included. While you can't remove some fees, you'd be surprised at how many can be eliminated if you ask. So, having this info at hand will be key when it's time to negotiate with your provider. Locating local internet providers CNET If you're not sure what download speed you're supposed to receive, you can find that information on your ISP's broadband label for the plan you signed up for. Are you getting the advertised speeds for that plan? You can take a simple internet speed test to figure out how much speed you're actually getting. If your speeds are somewhat slower, you may need to optimize your Wi-Fi setup. Do you have a data cap? If so, are you staying within that data limit, or do you typically incur overage fees? If you're using too much data every month, it may be time to upgrade to the next tier or to move on to an ISP that doesn't enforce data caps. 2. Evaluate how much speed you really need You want the fastest speed available, right? Some folks have access to a 50Gbps plan, for goodness sake! But let's be honest. While most of us like the idea of having the fastest internet speed available, we probably don't need it. A fast internet plan is probably near the top of your priority list if you work from home and have others in the house (whether several roommates or a family). But that could still mean you can lean on a 500Mbps plan before jumping right to a full gigabit tier or even a multi-gigabit plan. But if it's just you and a roommate or spouse, or you're not working remotely and using your internet service for little more than email and streaming, you may want to consider lowering your internet speed even more. Perhaps you can hop down from a gigabit plan to a 500Mbps tier. That could be an easy way to get a lower internet bill without impacting the quality of your broadband experience. To evaluate your household's speed use, you can turn to our internet speed guide. Count the number of devices in your home that use significant bandwidth (including those smart home devices!), the number of heavy internet users in your house and the amount of data you're consuming monthly. That should give you a good picture of whether you're getting enough speed. 3. Minimize your devices, if you can This is tough because our homes have become increasingly filled with connected devices, including smart TVs, phones, gaming consoles, voice assistants, smart thermostats, security cameras, smartwatches, etc. The more smart home gadgets you have, the more they'll hog your bandwidth. If you're the only one in your household, you can better wrangle these so they don't eat up your data cap (if you have one) or start to bring down your home's overall speed. Fewer devices mean you might avoid paying data overage fees and get more effective internet service. On the other hand, this probably won't work if you have other people in your home -- like family or roommates -- and they all have multiple devices. It's one thing to ask your family or roommates to turn off (or minimize the use of) their devices so you can stream a big game but it's another to ask them to give them up altogether. In a larger household, knocking down the number of devices connected to your home internet may be hard.4. Explore low-cost internet options Another potential way to reduce your spending and get a lower internet bill is to look into what discount programs might be available. You should start your search with government programs to help eligible customers cut costs. Lifeline is a program that offers assistance to low-income households, offering about $9 monthly off your broadband bill if you're eligible. Our low-income internet state-by-state guide has a breakdown of ISPs with low-cost offerings or state programs that may help with your bill. While you can use the funds and discounts from federal programs like Lifeline on your internet plan, you can also couple those subsidies with providers' low-cost plans, almost all of which are $30 or less. In the past, that might have meant paltry speeds of 10Mbps or less, but since 2022, many providers have committed to offering low-cost plans with a minimum of 100Mbps download speed in accordance with the new FCC guideline on broadband speeds. That's a significant difference. 5. Research available competitors Shop a bit before making up your mind about your next internet provider. Sarah Tew/CNET Now that you know your internet speed, what you use it for and what you're paying to receive your home broadband, it's time to shop around. A lot of internet competitors are vying for your business -- and they try to make it as enticing as possible for customers to switch over. For example, T-Mobile and Verizon have aggressively entered the home internet space with their 5G home internet products. Verizon 5G Home Internet offers a range of perks and streaming add-ons and a contract buyout if you're stuck with another ISP. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers similar perks, like a pre-paid Mastercard up to $300. Other providers will happily give you an introductory rate less than what you currently pay. Sometimes, smaller, local ISPs can provide a better rate than the internet behemoths such as AT&T and Xfinity but that's not always the case. Use our comparison shopping tool to research providers in your area. Before signing up, get an idea of your monthly costs when you switch your internet service to a new provider. Compare what you're paying now to what you'll pay for the next month, six months and year. Along with that, what's the cost after the promo plan ends? Consider your long-term use as well. With the competitive landscape out there, try to find internet providers without long-term contract requirements -- unless you know that you're getting the best possible rate at your address. Starlink Satellites Are Bringing Internet to Millions. We'll Explain the Pros and Cons Starlink Satellites Are Bringing Internet to Millions. We'll Explain the Pros and Cons Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:38 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 2:38 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Starlink Satellites Are Bringing Internet to Millions. We'll Explain the Pros and Cons 6. Use your own equipment Some internet providers charge an extra monthly fee for renting a modem and router. That fee can range from $5 monthly to as much as $20. In many cases, it may be cheaper to buy your own instead of paying an additional $15 monthly for several years. Plus, you may find you can get a higher-performing, faster router than the one being leased to you by your ISP. CNET's Joe Supan tested this by purchasing his equipment and saving hundreds of dollars as a result. While the cost for a router may seem like a lot upfront (many decent routers cost between $100 to $200), that cost will likely pay for itself after a year. And you can continue saving on your internet bill each month. 7. Bundle your broadband Obviously, your internet connection isn't the only household service you pay for. You could pay less by bundling your internet with other services, such as your cellphone and cable TV plans. For instance, T-Mobile and Verizon offer customers a $10 or $20 discount if they bundle their home internet with eligible mobile plans. See if your provider offers discounted bundle packages. If you like the offer, signing up through the company's website is usually easy. This is a good idea if you use what you buy. If you've cut the cord and are now a streaming household, buying a cable TV package might not be the best move. But there are plenty of mobile and internet bundles to choose from to help cut costs. 8. Negotiate with your internet provider You've reviewed your bill and checked your internet speed. You've counted how many devices you have and compared competing offers. Now you can take the final step and try negotiating with your current ISP. It's a daunting prospect, but ultimately, it is one of the most important ways to get a lower internet bill. If you've had the same provider for a few years, it's more likely to work with you on lowering your bill. Many will ask the same questions: Can you reduce your internet speed? Can you increase your internet speed (they'll often try to lure you to a higher speed by offering better promos and a better cost per Mbps)? Now that you've done all the research and evaluation, you're better equipped to wisely answer those questions. Before you pick up the phone, do your research on the internet plans from competing ISPs available at your address. If you mention offers from competitors you've come across, your customer service rep may give you a deal to keep you a happy customer. Knowing about competing offers gives you an advantage: Your provider knows you can move on to another ISP if you don't like what you currently have or what's offered. Ask your current provider if any internet deals are available for new customers. If you haven't found a deal that works for your budget (or you've run into an inflexible sales agent), it's all right to end the call and try again later -- or plan on ending service with that provider so you can switch to a better one. Don't be afraid to cancel your service. It may take some time to close one account and open another, but saving a significant amount is worth it. Remember, though, that it's not just about the promotion period. Otherwise, you may need to negotiate your internet bill this time next year when the promo rate is over. Save money on your internet bill FAQs Is it possible to get your home internet service free? Maybe. You'll need to take advantage of some federal programs to do so. Start with Lifeline, a government program that can get eligible customers a little more than $9 off the monthly cost of internet service. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in May, leaving millions of Americans without access to cheap home internet, but many ISPs offer low-cost internet plans. Check out our low-income internet state-by-state guide to determine which programs are available in your area. What's the cheapest type of internet connection? That's a tricky question because so much depends on what's available at your location. Generally speaking, fiber internet will often provide the best cost per Mbps, where you'll get more download and upload speed for your money. However, regarding the cheapest internet, at least in terms of what you'll pay right out of the gate, that usually comes from cable internet providers. Their first-year promo prices can be tough to beat. Just avoid signing any long-term contract so you can opt out once the price increases.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tariff hike: Nigeria's internet users decline — NCC
Nigeria's telecommunications sector witnessed a notable decline in internet users following a 50 per cent tariff hike on voice, data, and SMS services implemented in January 2025. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made this known in industry statistics on its website. According to the report, the industry lost approximately one million internet users in February, with the user base shrinking from 142.16 million to 141.25 million. It said although a slight recovery was observed in March, with the figure rising to 142.05 million, the sector's data consumption patterns were significantly impacted. The NCC data showed a 12 per cent decline in monthly data consumption in February, dropping to 893.06 petabytes from January's record high of one exabyte. It, however, said a marginal rebound was recorded in March, with data usage increasing by 11.5 per cent to 995.88 petabytes. Despite this modest recovery, the report said consumption levels remained slightly below the January peak, suggesting that subscribers continued to exhibit caution in their usage habits due to the increased tariffs. Meanwhile, the telecom industry demonstrated resilience in other areas, with operators adding 3.39 million new telephone users between January and March. This growth propelled the total active lines from 169.32 million to 172.71 million, subsequently boosting Nigeria's teledensity from 78.10 per cent to 79.67 per cent during the same period. In terms of market dynamics, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) maintained their dominance in the internet market. MTN Nigeria led with 75.62 million users, followed by Airtel Nigeria with 48.8 million, Globacom with 15.37 million, and 9mobile with 1.75 million. MTN also retained its market lead in active telephone lines with 90.5 million subscribers, representing a 52.48 per cent market share, while Airtel followed with 58.3 million users (33.78 per cent), Globacom with 20.7 million (12 per cent), and 9mobile with 2.9 million (1.72 per cent). The latest industry figures underscore the complexities facing Nigeria's telecom sector as operators navigate economic pressures and evolving consumer behaviours.
