Upstream broadband usage rose 19.2% year on year in Q2 2026, lifting its share of total traffic to 8.2% from 5.7% as downstream growth slowed to 6.1%, OpenVault said.
Cloud synchronization, always-on connected devices and AI-assisted workflows drove the shift, turning upload capacity into a persistent load rather than a secondary channel tied mainly to video consumption.
711GB average monthly usage per subscriber was up 7.1%, while median usage climbed 11.8% to 482.3GB, suggesting heavier consumption is spreading more broadly across households.
47.8Mbps average Docsis upstream speed was up 33.7%, yet fibre users still consumed 94.1GB upstream per subscriber versus 58.2GB on Docsis, or roughly 60% to 75% more across key measures.
5.86% of subscribers now use at least 2TB a month, and OpenVault said operators will need to expand return-path headroom as the downstream-to-upstream ratio keeps narrowing.
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Fibre Upstream Usage Surges 61.6% Over DOCSIS: The 2026 Broadband Upstream Revolution and Its Industry Impact
Overview
In Q2 2026, fibre broadband subscribers averaged 94.1 GB of upstream usage per month, which is 61.6% higher than DOCSIS users at 58.2 GB. This clear trend of higher upstream traffic on fibre reflects changing user behavior, as people increasingly engage in data-heavy activities like video conferencing and cloud backups. The surge in upload demand is putting pressure on network infrastructure, especially for providers using older DOCSIS technology. As a result, broadband companies must invest in upgrades to meet these new needs and ensure a smooth experience for all users.