Happy 2024: 18% more mobile data during New Year's Eve

During New Year's Eve 2024, the Netherlands made massive use of KPN's mobile network to wish each other a happy New Year. Last year's mobile data record was largely surpassed: 535 terabytes of mobile data were used, an increase of 18% compared to last year and more than 22 times more than in 2014. However, the number of text messages and telephone calls sent fell again. 

After the countdown to midnight and the popping of the corks, the Netherlands wished each other a happy New Year via the KPN network. This happened more and more often via WhatsApp messages, video calls and social media. The network's peak load was between 00:05 and 00:10, both for mobile data use and for calling and texting. KPN's mobile network survived New Year's Eve well and connected millions of Dutch people. 

Nearly 1 million text messages were sent between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., again slightly less than last year. The number of telephone calls also decreased slightly compared to previous years, with more than 3.2 million calls made. In 2023, KPN once again processed more data traffic on its network than the year before. Data traffic on the KPN network is also expected to increase further in 2024, with associated peaks and data records. 

However, the peaks in mobile data traffic last night were not a record for 2023. In 2023, these were caused by the F1 races, with the outliers being the Grand Prix Formula 1 race on September 3 in Monza and the F1 race a week earlier in their own country at the circuit of Zandvoort. Data traffic on KPN's networks increased further last year. Not only streaming, but also working from home, video calling and gaming remain popular

Voice and data traffic in the past ten years on the KPN mobile network measured from 10 pm on New Year’s Eve to 4 am on New Year’s Day