As the social distancing efforts push everything from school to socializing into video chat, networks have seen huge surges in traffic — and new anxieties over how digital networks will stand up under the strain.
Three recent mobile phone mast fires around the UK are being investigated as possible arson, amid concerns that people are attacking telecoms infrastructure because of a conspiracy theory linking 5G technology to the spread of coronavirus.
网络上的流言认为5G能加速病毒传播：
One suggests 5G suppresses the immune system, the other claims the virus is somehow using the network's radio waves to communicate and pick victims, accelerating its spread.
“In Liverpool these masts are being upgraded and ironically the very people that are using this technology are the ones who are believing these theories."
Just over the last few days, YouTube, Netflix, and Facebook have reduced their streaming qualities across the globe to help mitigate network congestion, with YouTube limiting videos to standard definition (480p) by default in the US and Europe.
As of this week, AT&T reported, "Wireless voice minutes of use was up 39% compared to an average Monday. Wi-Fi Calling minutes of use was 78% higher than an average Monday. "美国电话电报公司报告称，截至当周，“无线语音分钟数较周一的平均时长增长39%。Wi-Fi通话比周一的平均时间多78%。“
The company said its core network traffic, including "business, home broadband and wireless usage," was up 27% on Monday compared with the same day last month.该公司表示，其核心网络流量，包括“商务、家庭宽带和无线使用量”在3月23日比上月同期增长了27%。
"When it's time for the Super Bowl, operators spend millions of dollars [to meet demand]. Now, it's like the whole country is kind of like the Super Bowl."
It took China's three major telecommunications operators — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — around just three days to complete construction of the communication network at Huoshenshan Hospital.
中国三大电信运营商中国移动、中国电信和中国联通仅用了三天时间就完成了火神山医院的通信网络建设。
The full coverage of 5G in the two hospitals will not only ensure a smooth and reliable communications environment but will also play a critical role in intelligent medical treatment.
随着新冠肺炎疫情全球蔓延，许多国家和地区启动民众居家隔离模式。居家娱乐、居家办公等基于网络的需求暴涨，导致国外多地通信网络受到前所未有的考验。
As the social distancing efforts push everything from school to socializing into video chat, networks have seen huge surges in traffic — and new anxieties over how digital networks will stand up under the strain.
英国曼彻斯特的孩子们通过YouTube参加健身班 图源：路透社
3月中旬以来，外媒关于疫情隔离措施导致各国网络崩溃的报道逐渐增多。
➤ 英国：四大移动运营商被挤爆
英国的四大网络运营商，在实行隔离禁令后的第二天，全部被挤爆。
当地时间3月16日，英国首相约翰逊呼吁民众尽量在家工作。然而，第二天英国四大移动运营商EE、沃达丰、O2和Three全部遭遇网络瘫痪，数百万在家办公的英国人受到影响，无法打电话、发短信和上网。
UK phone networks suffered from a major outage on Tuesday, with customers from EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and GiffGaff all reporting issues.
Some customers complained that they were unable to send or receive text messages, while others said they were having difficulties getting online.
根据专门监测网络状况的网站DownDetector的数据，全英国的用户都受到影响，最严重的地区是伦敦和英格兰西北部。
不少网友在DownDetector上报错，抱怨当地的网速非常糟糕。
在优兔看视频，信号每五分钟断一次。
说好安装新盒子，从没来过。骗子。
一周了，我们家的网时不时就断几分钟。现在封城了，我们住在乡下，网络是我们唯一的采购和社交途径，我们怎么过日子？
断网三天了，什么工作也做不了。给他们报告了故障……无人回应。还有多久才能解决？
正当各大运营商焦头烂额之时，英国的信号塔还被烧了……
据《卫报》4月4日报道，有关5G和新冠病毒的阴谋论在社交媒体中被广泛传播，英国连发三起移动信号塔被烧事件。
Three recent mobile phone mast fires around the UK are being investigated as possible arson, amid concerns that people are attacking telecoms infrastructure because of a conspiracy theory linking 5G technology to the spread of coronavirus.
网络上的流言认为5G能加速病毒传播：
One suggests 5G suppresses the immune system, the other claims the virus is somehow using the network's radio waves to communicate and pick victims, accelerating its spread.
一种说法是5G抑制了人体免疫系统，另一种说法是病毒能通过网络的无线电波传播和挑选受害者，加速了病毒的传播。
这些荒唐的言行，无疑让本就压力倍增的移动运营商们更加头大。利物浦市长Joe Anderson说，人们一边享受网络一边又在网上造谣，十分讽刺。
“In Liverpool these masts are being upgraded and ironically the very people that are using this technology are the ones who are believing these theories."
“在利物浦，这些信号塔正在升级。但讽刺的是，正是享用这一技术的人盲信了传言。”
欧洲其他国家也遭遇了巨大网络压力。
在西班牙，全国最近几天的IP网络流量增长了近40%，而语音和数据流量分别增长了约50%和25%，即时通讯工具WhatsApp的流量几天内增加了五倍；远程工作平台流量增加了四倍。
在法国，由于大量民众居家办公学习，互联网系统不堪重负。法国政府已经要求通信运营商实行“数字纪律”，以确保网络容量得到有效利用。
在德国，当地时间3月10日晚，德国的网络流量达到了每秒9.1Tbit，创下了近几年的历史新高……
由于学校停课，学生们在家上网学习 图源：美联社
欧盟呼吁各大视频网站，暂时调低欧洲用户的画面质量，以缓解欧洲宽带网络的压力。3月24日优兔宣布并实施下调画质，预计持续约30天。
Just over the last few days, YouTube, Netflix, and Facebook have reduced their streaming qualities across the globe to help mitigate network congestion, with YouTube limiting videos to standard definition (480p) by default in the US and Europe.
在过去的几天中，优兔、网飞和脸书在全球范围内下调流媒体画质，以缓解网络拥挤，在美国和欧洲，优兔默认将视频限制为标清画质（480p）。
欧盟官员 Thierry Breton 在推特上发出 #SwitchToStandard 的话题，呼吁欧洲用户把视频清晰度从“高清”调整到“标清”
微软的Xbox也要求游戏公司只在非高峰时段发布更新版本。
➤ 美国：仿佛整个国家都在举办超级碗
同样的问题，还出现在美国。据美国广播公司（ABC）3月27日报道：
As of this week, AT&T reported, "Wireless voice minutes of use was up 39% compared to an average Monday. Wi-Fi Calling minutes of use was 78% higher than an average Monday. "美国电话电报公司报告称，截至当周，“无线语音分钟数较周一的平均时长增长39%。Wi-Fi通话比周一的平均时间多78%。“
The company said its core network traffic, including "business, home broadband and wireless usage," was up 27% on Monday compared with the same day last month.该公司表示，其核心网络流量，包括“商务、家庭宽带和无线使用量”在3月23日比上月同期增长了27%。
3月24日，纽约一名教师在屋顶上联网进行线上教学 图源：Getty Images
同时，根据宽带分析网站BroadbandNow的数据，全美200个城市当中，有88个城市出现网速降低。其中，美国疫情重灾区纽约市上周下载速度比前10周下降了24%。
New York City, now considered the epicenter of the virus in the US, saw download speeds drop by 24% last week, compared to the previous 10-week range.
全球无线解决方案（Global Wireless Solutions）首席执行官Paul Carter表示，目前网络需求就像“超级碗星期天”（Super Bowl Sunday）。
"When it's time for the Super Bowl, operators spend millions of dollars [to meet demand]. Now, it's like the whole country is kind of like the Super Bowl."
“到了举办超级碗的时候，运营商就要斥资数百万美元（以满足需求）。现在，整个国家的情况都有点像在举办超级碗。”
各国网速对比
宽带速度测试服务公司Ookla公布了近几个月来的全球网速报告，展示了疫情暴发前后全球各地的网络速度变化。
先看看亚洲地区。
亚洲几个国家或地区移动宽带网速对比（上）和移动宽带网络延迟对比（下）紫色线条为中国图源：speedtest 数据：Ookla
中国的移动宽带在疫情暴发初期，网速出现大幅下跌。但在2月初提速之后，逐渐恢复到正常水平。不难看出，即便是下跌不少，对比日本、印度等国家，中国的移动网速还是明显领先。
虽然不同程度上受到疫情影响，但当下中国网速已经处于稳步回升的态势。
在网络延迟方面，中国的数据波动不大，整体上比其他亚洲国家要低。
在欧洲几个疫情严重的国家和地区，移动宽带在三月中旬出现下降。在各大视频网站限速之后，才有所回升。
橙色为意大利，红色为西班牙
中国网络为什么没有崩？
在几个月的隔离期间，全国约十亿用户远程办公、线上教学、宅家抗疫，产生了高负荷网络需求，但我们的网络并没有崩溃。
这强大的抗压能力，与我国的基础网络建设是分不开的。
图源：中国日报
工业和信息化部信息通信管理局（Ministry of Industry and Information Technology）数据显示，截至2月底，全国建设开通5G基站达16.4万个。
光是疫情期间，新建的4G和5G基站就超过6.3万个。
Some 164,000 5G base stations had been established across the country by the end of February, MIIT data showed.
我们看到了通信行业工作人员冒着危险、迎难而上的奉献精神。
官方数据显示，疫情期间，全国通信行业累计投入通信保障人员35.7万人次。这些人员在不同岗位上，保障了国网络的正常使用。
我们也见证了24小时建成火神山医院5G基站，36小时开通雷神山通信网络的“中国速度”。
火神山、雷神山医院建设期间，数千万人“云监工”在线观看直播
It took China's three major telecommunications operators — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — around just three days to complete construction of the communication network at Huoshenshan Hospital.
中国三大电信运营商中国移动、中国电信和中国联通仅用了三天时间就完成了火神山医院的通信网络建设。
The full coverage of 5G in the two hospitals will not only ensure a smooth and reliable communications environment but will also play a critical role in intelligent medical treatment.
两家医院5G的全覆盖，不仅保证了通信环境的顺畅可靠，也将在智能医疗中发挥关键作用。