DE-CIX: Global Data Traffic Surges Significantly
One of the world's largest internet exchange operators recorded a new global peak in data volume at its locations in 2024.
Enough to stream football for two million years. That’s how DE-CIX, one of the world’s largest operators of internet exchange points, illustrates its new global record of 68 exabytes of data traffic recorded across its locations in 2024.
The Key Points at a Glance
- A brontobyte refers to a future global data volume of 1027 bytes.
- Since 2016, we’ve been in the zettabyte era, with 1,000 exabytes of data generated annually.
- In 2024, DE-CIX recorded a global annual data throughput of 68 exabytes.
- This marks a 15% increase compared to the previous year and more than double the volume seen in 2020.
- Gaming and streaming are major drivers behind the rising data volumes.
Brontosaurs were among the largest animals ever to walk the Earth. Similarly massive will be the global data volume of one brontobyte – or 1027 bytes – a unit still far in the future, according to IONOS. By now, we’ve grown accustomed to exabytes (1018 bytes), and since 2016 we’ve been living in the zettabyte era, where one zettabyte equals 1,000 exabytes (short: EB).
DE-CIX, a leading German internet exchange operator and one of the largest globally, recorded a new annual data throughput record in 2024 – 68 exabytes – across its Frankfurt am Main hub and other international locations. This represents a 15% year-on-year increase and more than double the traffic volume from 2020, when it stood at 32 EB.
Gamers drive massive increase in data volume
Gamers in particular are responsible for the new internet traffic record. The daily peak reached 24.92 terabytes per second. If printed out, this would create a stack of paper 20 times higher than Mount Everest, according to ChannelPartner.
Streaming has also significantly contributed to the rapid growth in global internet traffic. Unsurprisingly, DE-CIX compares the new record of 68 EB in Frankfurt and other locations (such as Mumbai, New York, and Madrid) to streaming a football match on loop for two million years.
FAQ
What is a brontobyte?
A brontobyte corresponds to a data volume of 10^27 bytes. It is a hypothetical unit for measuring future global data volumes.
Since when has the zettabyte era been in effect?
The zettabyte era began in 2016. Since then, global data volume has been measured in zettabytes – equivalent to one thousand exabytes.
How much data did DE-CIX process globally in 2024?
In 2024, DE-CIX recorded an annual data volume of 68 exabytes. This figure includes traffic from locations such as Frankfurt, Mumbai, New York, and Madrid.
By what percentage did data traffic increase in 2024?
Data traffic rose by 15 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Since 2020, the volume has more than doubled.
What factors are driving data volume growth according to the article?
The main drivers are online gaming and content streaming. Both contribute significantly to the rising global internet traffic.
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