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Global data traffic volume hits new recordbreaking 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 .
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 .
The record-breaking 68 exabytes of data exchanged through the year , if printed , would be equivalent to a stack of paper 20 times higher than Mount Everest . In the space of one minute , 186.9 terabytes of data flowed over DE-CIX IXs worldwide .
Internet-based applications drive development
The growing use of Internet-based and cloud applications has been driving the development of data traffic at DE-CIX for years . While 32 exabytes of data was exchanged in 2020 and 38 exabytes in 2021 , this grew to 48 exabytes in 2022 and then 59 in 2023 .
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 .
Together with the growth in 2024 , this makes 113 % growth in traffic over DE-CIX exchanges worldwide in the last five years .
The November peak coincided with the latest record at DE-CIX Frankfurt : The traffic exchanged by the close to 1,100 local , regional and global connected networks reached a peak of 18.11 Tbit / s on that day . DE-CIX Frankfurt is Europe ’ s largest Internet Exchange , with more than 45 exabytes of data throughput in 2024 – an increase of 13 % compared to 2023 .
24 INTELLIGENTCIO LATAM www . intelligentcio . com