2. Tablets
While tablet bandwidth usage is trending down from previous years, it is still a major contributing factor to the higher ed digital traffic jam. In 2013, Tablets accounted for 83.5 percent of the highest bandwidth usage devices. In 2016, that number was down to 57.7 percent; still a large percentage, but not nearly as overwhelming as it used to be. Tablets are an important part of the higher ed experience, allowing students to access digital textbooks and other resources cheaply and on-demand.
That said, some institutions have found that limiting the number of mobile devices allowed on the university network per user profile has helped to alleviate this particular bandwidth issue.
3. Video Systems
Apple TV, Roku, DVD/Blu-Ray Players; all are significant users of university bandwidth due to the nature of the files they stream. Multimedia is a huge drain on university bandwidth resources, and so devices used specifically to access these files are definite culprits in the bandwidth war. One estimate puts 87.7 percent of bandwidth draining apps in the realm of TV and video content, pointing a clear finger at the systems which support them.
Combating this might be a matter of creating other appealing options to resident students. By offering regular cable in dormitories, universities might cut back on the number of IPTV devices their students bring to campus and, thus, bandwidth requirements to serve these devices.
4. Smartphones
Smartphones have become a necessary sidekick for a large majority of the population; and as a result are an ever-present force on university networks. The ACUTA survey found that they account for 55.2 percent of the highest bandwidth-consuming devices.
Some universities have tried to reduce this number by bolstering cell service in the area of their institution; encouraging users to exchange data via their cellular network rather than the university’s.
As users begin to expect more from their university’s network, the bandwidth needed to support their needs will become more difficult to come by. Only 17 percent of technology officers surveyed by ACUTA think that their residential networks will be able to keep up with the future of the Internet of Things.
Implementing protocols now that can help alleviate bandwidth problems will be a long-term solution to what will surely only get worse as technology progresses and student expectations expand.
[Editor’s note: This post was originally published on Optimal Partners Blog.]
Danielle R. is a writer for Optimal Partners Blog.
- Cohort connections matter: Strategies to help graduate students persist and succeed - August 14, 2026
- Higher education needs better AI experiences, not more AI tools - August 12, 2026
- Beyond a keynote speaker: A strategic roadmap for AI in higher education - August 10, 2026