EU asks Netflix to reduce picture quality to ease bandwidth pressure during epidemic

According to Deadline, in the next month, Netflix will limit the quality of its streaming content and reduce video quality at the request of the European Union to ease the pressure on the network for European users, as more and more users who are hiding at home from the new coronavirus are very dependent on the network.

Deadline estimates that this will reduce Netflix traffic on European networks by 25%, while also ensuring our members receive good service. This follows the EU’s call earlier today for streaming providers to pay attention to network pressures and impacts on internet service reliability.

Currently, Netflix's video quality restrictions only apply to European users; the official has not stated that the video quality restrictions also apply to users in other areas. In fact, Netflix itself can automatically adjust the video bitrate according to the network quality. Its 4K video bitrate is 15Mbps, and if the home broadband is good enough, it can reach this bitrate (only for computers and TVs with 4K monitors).