Only 480p content on Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon for mobile users till 14 April

The Covid-19 outbreak has generated unique situations in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown on Tuesday to curb the spread of coronavirus. This unusual situation has called for a single solution.

The lockdown has caused an unexpected surge in the consumption of media via mobile networks. Not only social media corporations like Instagram and Facebook, but even dedicated video streaming applications are witnessing high demand.

The Digital Industry titans like Disney India, Netflix India, Facebook, Google, Amazon Prime Video conveyed a virtual meeting to look for solutions to the problem.

The industry heads chose to lower the default resolution of content from HD (High Definition) and ultra-HD to SD (Standard Definition), at bitrates no higher than 480p on cellular networks. These voluntary measures will be in impact until April 14.

The official release read, “the digital industry has chosen to act quickly in the larger national and consumer interest and to assure the robustness of the cellular network. It was commonly agreed that as an exceptional measure, all companies would immediately adopt measures.”

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has also reportedly asked mobile users to consume data more responsibly and endorsed the digital industry’s view to restrict the resolution of the content.

COAI has requested users at home to time their internet use during off-peak hours.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in India have reached 606, and 43 out of these are foreign nationals. Maharashtra and Kerala are the worst-hit states with 128 and 109 cases each.

Total Lockdown in all states of India, Police officers are in charge of whoever is coming outside without any valid reason police officers are banging them with sticks.