Sandvine: In the Americas, Netflix + Google + Facebook = The Internet?

Netflix up again in North America, while Facebook and Google control 60% of LatAm mobile traffic

WATERLOO, ON, May 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Sandvine, (TSX:SVC) a leading provider of intelligent broadband network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today released its latest Global Internet Phenomena Report focusing on North America and Latin America.  The report is based on data from a selection of Sandvine's 250-plus communications service provider (CSP) customers.

Sandvine's Global Internet Phenomena Report: Latin America & North America contains findings from both fixed and mobile networks, the highlights of which include:

• Netflix continues to slowly increase its domination of North American fixed networks, accounting for 36.5% of downstream traffic in the peak evening hours
• In Latin American, two companies, Facebook and Google, now control over 60% of total mobile traffic in the region
• The release of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Ascendance DLC caused a significant spike in bandwidth usage, and accounted for 12% of traffic on one North American fixed network on its release date
• During the season five premiere of  Game of Thrones, HBO's two streaming properties (HBOGO and HBONOW) accounted for 4.1% of traffic on one US fixed network; an increase of over 300% of their average levels
• BitTorrent continues to see a decline in fixed access bandwidth share, and now accounts for only 6.3% of total traffic in North America, and 8.5% in Latin America
• Netflix's recent decision to encrypt their service will result in the majority of Internet traffic in Latin America and North America being encrypted in 2016

"Network traffic in the Americas seems to be getting increasingly concentrated," said Dave Caputo, CEO, Sandvine. "Netflix continues to rise as a percent of North American fixed network traffic. In Latin America, when you add up the properties of Facebook and Google, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Google Play, etc., these two Internet giants control over 60% of mobile network traffic. Corporate decisions by these major players, like Netflix's recent decision to encrypt their streams or Facebook's decision to auto-play videos uploaded to its site, can instantly and dramatically impact subscribers and all Internet access networks."

For 2015, Sandvine is changing the structure of the Global Internet Phenomena Reports in order to provide more granular detail on Internet usage around the world. Sandvine will issue three publications of the report, each focusing on distinct regions, allowing for a deeper exploration of the unique traits of markets across the globe.

Check out Sandvine's Internet Phenomena blog on a regular basis for the latest trends, predictions and phenomena impacting Internet usage around the world.

GLOBAL INTERNET PHENOMENA REPORT METHODOLOGY
Sandvine's Global Internet Phenomena Reports are based on a representative cross-section of Sandvine's data from a selection of Sandvine's 250-plus customers spanning North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Caribbean and Latin America and Asia-Pacific.  Data is gathered over a one-month period and is completely subscriber-anonymous.  No identifiable information of any kind, including IP addresses are collected during the study.  Sandvine's network equipment analyzes data from an application utilization level and is not content aware.

ABOUT SANDVINE
Sandvine's network policy control solutions add intelligence to fixed, mobile and converged communications service provider networks to enable services that can increase revenue and reduce network costs. Powered by Sandvine's Policy Engine and SandScript policy language, Sandvine's networking equipment performs end-to-end policy control functions including traffic classification, and policy decision and enforcement across the data, control and business planes.  Sandvine's products provide actionable business insight, the ability to deploy new subscriber services and tools to optimize traffic while enhancing subscriber Internet quality of experience.

Sandvine's network policy control solutions are deployed in more than 250 networks in over 90 countries, serving hundreds of millions of data subscribers worldwide, www.sandvine.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this release which are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of such laws. Statements related to the scope of deployment of Sandvine's products by a specific customer, the potential revenue opportunity with any particular customer or in any market segment, the benefits of Sandvine's products and services to be realized by customers, Sandvine's market position, future opportunities, product development plans and demand for Sandvine's products and services are forward looking statements, as are any statements relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sandvine to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in internal deployment strategies or plans by specific customers; the growth of broadband internet usage and levels of capital spending on broadband network management systems; the timing of orders and manufacturing lead times; changes in customer order patterns or customer mix; insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; increased competition in the broadband network equipment industry; dependence on the timely development and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; manufacturing and sourcing risks including dependence on key suppliers and key technologies; dependence upon indirect channel sales and resellers; factors such as business and economic conditions and growth trends in the broadband network equipment industry and in various geographic regions; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment including the impact of regulation related to the internet and the delivery of internet services. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and Sandvine does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Sandvine

INVESTOR CONTACT, Rick Wadsworth, Sandvine, [phone] ext. 3503, [email protected]; MEDIA CONTACT, Dan Deeth, Sandvine, [phone], [email protected]