Netflix will reduce streaming quality in Europe for 30 days

Earlier today, we learned that EU Commissioner Thierry Breton had

called for Netflix to reduce streaming quality in Europe

— a move to limit its overall bandwidth usage as more users turn to streaming services for in-home entertainment during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Netflix

has confirmed that it will comply with this request. In a statement first sent to Business Insider

and confirmed to TechCrunch, a rep for Netflix says:

Following the discussions between Commissioner Thierry Breton and Reed Hastings – and given the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus – Netflix has decided to begin reducing bit rates across all our streams in Europe for 30 days. We estimate that this will reduce Netflix traffic on European networks by around 25 percent while also ensuring a good quality service for our members.

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