DE-CIX sets new global internet traffic record during Portugal v Spain

Record internet traffic during Portugal v Spain

Internet Exchange operator DE-CIX logged an all-time high in global internet traffic during Monday’s World Cup match between Portugal and Spain.

In a statement, the company said: "Internet traffic across DE-CIX’s entire global interconnection ecosystem reached a new all-time high of 28.4 terabits per second (Tbit/s)", specifying that the peak occurred at 20:35 in Lisbon, "during the match between Portugal and Spain".

What the new DE-CIX peak indicates

DE-CIX noted that the surge highlights "the growing impact of live sports broadcasts on internet infrastructure worldwide". It said the volume would be equivalent to streaming more than 15 million TikTok videos at the same time, or to a stack of printed paper "around 22 times taller than Mount Everest".

Why World Cup matches drive immediate spikes

According to DE-CIX, increases in internet traffic during men’s World Cup matches happen almost instantly.

"Millions of fans connect simultaneously via smartphones, connected TVs, tablets and computers, generating sharp traffic spikes just minutes after kick-off", the company said. It added that, beyond "streaming", traffic is also boosted by AI-generated highlights, personalised content, real-time match statistics, social media activity, second-screen experiences and interactive fan-engagement platforms.

Cited in the statement, DE-CIX chief executive officer (CEO) Ivo Ivanov described the men’s World Cup as "one of the largest synchronised "streaming" events on the planet". He stressed that the record traffic levels "show why high-performance interconnection has become essential to deliver the seamless digital experiences users expect".

He added that as more global-scale events move to "streaming", building resilient interconnection infrastructure is becoming "the critical backbone of the global digital economy".

The Portugal v Spain match, played in the tournament’s round of 16, ended in a 1-0 win for Spain after a goal from Mikel Merino in the 90+1 minute.