Netflix starts restoring streaming quality in Europe

Netflix lowered the streaming quality earlier in March to reduce load on bandwidth.

Netflix users in Denmark, Norway and Germany have started receiving the original streaming quality. (Pixabay)

Netflix lowered the streaming quality on its platform globally to reduce load on bandwidth. Netflix has now started restoring the streaming quality in parts of Europe.

According to a report by Gizmodo UK, Netflix users in Denmark, Norway and Germany have said the Netflix streaming quality is back to normal. These users said Netflix is now available to stream on 4K HDR and up to 15 Mbps bitrate. This is however a gradual rollout and all users may not have received it yet.

"Please note, we are working with ISPs to help increase capacity. In the last month alone we have added four times the normal capacity. As conditions improve we will lift these limitations,” Gizmodo quoted Netflix as saying.

Lockdowns have been eased in different countries including those in Europe. Earlier in March, Netflix and other video platforms like YouTube and Disney+ decided to lower the streaming quality. With people having to stay at home, streaming content was on a rise.

In India too, Netflix removed the highest bandwidth available to stream content. While the video resolution remained the same, the quality had been reduced so it does not consume much bandwidth. Netflix said this would help lower the platform's traffic on telecommunications networks by 25%. YouTube also reduced the streaming quality in India by making 480p the default resolution. This is however only on YouTube's mobile app.