Netflix peak traffic on the rise

Netflix increased its share of fixed-line Internet traffic in North America in the first half of 2014, accounting for 34 percent of data flowing to consumers during peak times, up from 32 percent in the latter half of 2013.

That’s according to a new report from Sandvine Inc., a Canadian networking services company.

Sandvine also found that file-sharing – the main tool of content piracy – had fallen to 8.3 percent of all daily network traffic, compared to 31 percent in 2008, as legitimate options have flourished.

Sandvine for the first time identified Internet users who are likely “cord cutters,” or those likely to drop traditional pay TV. They were the top 15 percent heaviest users of streaming audio and video.

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