COVID-19 and the Internet- A Match Made in Heaven?

The world is adapting to live with the circumstances created by the coronavirus. As our workplaces, schools, and streets empty, we find ourselves moving into a life centered around the internet. We are working from home now, binging hours of Netflix, becoming professional gamers, and much more to pass the time. The internet is keeping us connected to the world even when we can’t leave our own houses.

What would we do without the glue of the internet keeping us together? Is the internet going to be able to handle this influx of users? According to Chris Neklason of Cruzio, even though Asia, Europe, and the US are seeing as much as a 40% increase in traffic, we will be just fine. In “On the Shoulders of Giants”, Cloudflare confirms Chris’ calm.

Cruzio is focused on helping the community during this time:

“At Cruzio, our fiber backhaul over the hill is overbuilt and redundant. We're not seeing an uptick in traffic yet, but we'll easily be able to handle anything that happens,” Neklason said.

Cruzio is doing their part to keep us connected with their new program “Equal Access Santa Cruz”. They are offering three months of free service and a rate of $14.95 per month thereafter to qualifying households.

Stephen Blum, an independent consultant who does business development for broadband infrastructure projects, explained to Santa Cruz Works that “The issues are more social and financial than technical.”

Blum, who works with cities, regions, and counties discussing broadband gaps, and creating economic development opportunities, is not very worried about the internet just collapsing.

While he mentions that, “tomorrow the internet might melt,” he understands that “from all indications, the networks are holding up.”

For anyone worried that the internet could collapse, leaving us stripped of something we rely so heavily upon, Blum suggests you recall why we have the internet in the first place.

“The internet was built to communicate through a nuclear holocaust.”

This new online era might be much more promising than we realize. With so many people working remotely, in the comfort of their homes and loved ones, why would they go back?

“You’re not going to be able to turn back the clock”, Blum said. “You’re not going to have people want to come back to work if they now know they can do it online.”

This era is also going to bring forth new internet users, connecting the world even further. Internet service providers are currently offering anywhere from one to three months of free service in order to bring everyone up to speed.

With more people connected, a newfound comfortable workplace, and reliance like never before, we might just be entering a new era of cyber prosperity.

To apply for lower Cruzio rates, go to Cruzio.com/contact or contact local office of education.