Internet and Net Neutrality in the Time of Covid-19: A Global Overview

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak affected the lives of billions of people in a couple of months. It forced them to work and learn remotely, amplifying the importance of having a broadband connection. People in self-isolation and quarantine means more video streaming, online games, and virtual meetings, putting stress on the networks. On the other hand, Internet providers struggled to accommodate increasing traffic. Some regulatory frameworks experienced severe challenges to guarantee access to the Internet. Both providers and regulators had no choice but to break net neutrality rules during the pandemic. In response to such acts, we draw on various reliable sources to present a review of all the principal aspects associated with the COVID-19, Internet, and net neutrality. This study highlights the pandemic effects of traffic increases on the network’s capacity, including a qualitative evaluation of its main features as seen from the network neutrality principle. Finally, we found the changes in utilization patterns for online services have not affected the overall Internet. Also, we provide some examples of actions applied to ensure access to applications and services without, in theory, violate the net neutrality rules during the crisis.