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Vocus Blog

Prime time streaming surge

3 min read
A large, well-lit boxing arena filled with spectators. The central focus is on the boxing ring, illuminated by numerous spotlights. Above the ring, two large screens display the action. The arena is packed with people, creating an energetic and lively atmosphere, capturing the excitement and grandeur of a major boxing event.

This past weekend, one particular streaming service saw an unprecedented surge in demand. It turns out the combined star power of Mike Tyson and Jake Paul can really pack a digital punch!

At Vocus, we’re proud to operate the retail IP network that powers Dodo and Primus internet services and our goal is to help customers enjoy high-quality streaming experiences. We achieve this by partnering closely with content delivery networks (CDNs) and streaming platforms, integrating their networks directly with ours. This collaboration ensures content is brought closer to users for faster, more reliable delivery.

To make this possible, we host what’s known as edge servers within our network. These servers cache content locally, so when users stream a movie or, in this case, a highly anticipated sporting event they’re pulling it from a nearby CDN rather than a distant data centre. This setup can help with smooth playback and aims to minimises buffering, even during the most demanding moments.

With strategically placed caches in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, Vocus delivers premium entertainment to Australians with speed and reliability and during the weekend’s big event, streaming demand peaked at nearly 1 Tbps - almost three times the typical peak traffic.

A graph depicting network traffic over a period of time from 15-11 00:00 to 17-11 00:00. The y-axis represents the data transfer rate in Gb/s and Tb/s, ranging from -500 Gb/s to 1 Tb/s. There are two lines on the graph: a red line representing 'ingress' traffic and a blue line representing 'egress' traffic. The ingress traffic shows fluctuations with peaks and troughs, while the egress traffic remains relatively stable. Below the graph, statistics for both ingress and egress are displayed, including minimum, maximum, average, current, and total data transfer rates.
During the weekend’s big event, streaming demand peaked at nearly 1 Tbps - almost three times the typical peak traffic.

This record-breaking milestone highlights the importance of a robust network architecture and strong CDN partnerships, especially during events that capture the nation’s attention. At Vocus, we’re constantly innovating to meet and exceed user expectations, ensuring our customers never miss a moment of the action.

Streaming isn’t just about technology; it’s about creating connections and delivering content people love and we’re proud to make it happen.

Meet the author

Profile picture of Vocus' Jonathan Gleeson, General Manager Technology Operations, Wholesale & Infrastructure

Jonathan Gleeson

Jonathan has more than 20 year's experience in the telecommunications and technology industry and is currently General Manager Technology Operations. His team of technical and operational specialists oversee Vocus' IP and voice operations, network and system security, and incident management, including the organisation's Network Operations Centre (NOC) and Operations Control Centre (OCC).