According to the report by DE-CIX Internet Exchanges, global data traffic in 2023 reached 59 exabytes (EB), a remarkable 23 per cent increase from the 48 EB recorded in 2022.
In simpler terms, 59 EB represent the storage capacity of a staggering 460,625,000 smartphones, each equipped with 128 gigabytes of storage space.
As per the report, the data traffic reached approximately 6.4 EB in North America, 5.7 EB in India, and around 3.1 EB in Southern Europe. The report noted that the global data throughput peaked at 22.36 terabits per second (Tbit/s) on November 8, 2023, coinciding with the fourth match day of the UEFA Champions League.
The report added that the surge is attributed to the escalating use of internet-based applications, propelling data traffic development. In comparison to 32 EB in 2020 and 38 EB in 2021, the current total of 59 EB is equivalent to approximately 9.8 billion two-hour video streams.
Furthermore, as per the report, gaming services experienced heightened demand at the beginning and in mid-2023, while video conferencing saw regular usage in spring and late summer. Meanwhile, peaks in video streaming coincided with summer and winter.
