Windows 7 traffic higher than Obama’s

Internet traffic on Australian networks yesterday recorded levels that were nine to 12% higher than normal, web application developer Akamai says, which is most likely due to the release of Windows 7.

The firm also said that such traffic levels were higher than during US President Barack Obama’s inauguration. The company offered mirrored downloads of the software, and claims to deliver between 10% and 20% of internet traffic on any day.

“Essentially it was caused by people in Australia turning on their PCs and everyone all of a sudden going on the internet to find something,” Akamai managing director Stuart Spiteri, told itnews.com.au. “It went up dramatically and sustained at between 9% and 12% above usual levels throughout the day.

“By 3pm [yesterday], it had come off that 12% peak, but it’s still been a very unusual occurrence to jump by that much in a day. It’s a big jump.”

Other ISPs including Internode and iiNet also reported the traffic spikes, with the latter blaming Windows 7 for congestion problems on Tasmanian networks.