OpenVault observed that average downstream commercial usage per subscriber is 35% to 50% lower than average downstream residential usage, largely due to consumer video consumption.

However, the firm’s latest review of upstream usage shows that average consumption per household during the quarter was 13GB per month.

On closer analysis, OpenVault observed differences among subscriber categories that can have implications for operator networks, particularly those that serve both commercial and residential customers at scale. These included the fact that average upstream usage for commercial subscribers is nearly 2.5x the amount observed per residential subscriber, with commercial subs averaging over 30GB of upstream usage per month in September alone.

Meanwhile, upstream usage accounts for approximately 18% of total usage for commercial subscribers, versus. approximately 5.5% for residential subscribers. Overall upstream usage per subscriber is growing at approximately 16% annually.

“As upstream usage continues to grow, we’re seeing that usage-based broadband can help to curb strain on networks caused by excessive data consumption in both directions,” said Mark Trudeau, CEO of OpenVault. “At the same time, the data shows the importance of operators continuing to invest in next-generation DOCSIS and other solutions that will enable them to meet subscribers’ growing upstream expectations.”