EFFECT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ON INTERNET DATA USAGE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The Internet is a system architecture that has revolutionized communications and methods of commerce by allowing various computer networks around the world to interconnect. Sometimes referred to as a “network of networks,” the Internet emerged in the United States in the 1970s but did not become visible to the general public until the early 1990s.

The Internet more also is an immensely useful network, which allows people to communicate information and share their feelings. It supports human communication via social media, electronic mail (e-mail), “chat rooms,” newsgroups, and audio and video transmission and allows people to work collaboratively at many different locations. The entire World ran most activities via the aid of internet during the spread of a pandemic known to be Covid-19 in 2020.

The recently identified new Coronavirus is a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2). According to WHO the COVID-19 can be compared with common cold and pneumonia which affects the respiratory tracts and gut of birds, mammals and human beings. Its outbreak in Wuhan of Hubei state in China came to the notice of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 1st December 2019 and it was declared as a Global Public Health emergency on 30th January, 2020. This virus spread to across 200 countries in the world and was recognized as “Global Pandemic” by WHO on 11th March, 2020.

Following the severity and widespread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), most Governments I=of the world introduced lockdown measures to prevent the virus’ spread, hence this scenario disclosed how important it is for everyone to have access to reliable and resilient digital infrastructure (Adeola 2020). According to Kenneth (2020), the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions around the world had a huge impact on Internet traffic as large number of people are online more frequently and for longer. Whereas in “normal times” there was a big difference in the amount of data traffic between weekdays and weekends.

Peter (2020) cited that restrictions on movement generated higher Internet usage and increased traffic on networks, reflecting an increase in remote working, learning, video conferencing as well as other activities that have shifted online.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

In the year 2020 was the historical novel virus (COVID-19) pandemic in a manner that the world has never witnessed before. The human-to-human transmission rates of the virus are not only alarming and worrisome but also, the respiratory dysfunction and unwavering deaths it caused have attracted global concerns. In the fight to contain the spread of this Virus among masses, most Governments of the world adopted the social distancing and lockdown measures among other preventive measures. As a result of the lockdown, many businesses, institutions and others forms of organization ran most activities via the internet while other individuals used the internet as means for entertainment and communication with others. This huge attention and engagement on the internet inversely increased internet data usage rate. With reference to the above statements, this study is channeled towards investigating the effect of Covid-19 lockdown on internet data usage rate.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The major aim of this study is to examine the effect of Covid-19 lockdown on internet data usage. Other relevant objectives include:

• To identify if Covid-19 lockdown had any significant impact on internet data usage.

• Ascertain the extent to which people and businesses used internet to carryout crucial activities.

• Investigate if Covid-19 lockdown increased or reduced rate of data usage?

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

1. what is the impact of Covid-19 lockdown on internet data usage?

2. To what extent did businesses used internet to carryout crucial activities?

3. Did Covid-19 increase or reduce the rate of data usage?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of this study will be of immense usefulness to Government, organizations and private business owners as it reveals the huge role and importance of Internet to their various line of operation. However, researchers, tutors, lecturers and even students will find this material valuable base on the Interest and focus of their study.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study covers on the effect of Covid-19 lockdown on internet data usage, hence the study is limited to residents in Enugu, Enugu State Nigeria.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

INTERNET: the Internet refers to the electronic network or networks that link(s) people and information through computers and other digital devices; thereby allowing for person-to-person communication and information retrieval. The Internet is a major tool that emerged for the purpose of information dissemination; thus, the media acts as an information hegemon in terms of determining what information is made available to people as well as the impression people have on issues (Savrum & Leon, 2015).

LOCKDOWN: A lockdown can be defined as an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving a given area. A full lockdown will mean that the people in the given area must stay where they are and must not exit or enter a building or given area.

COVID-19: COVID 19: it is also known as coronavirus), is transmitted chiefly by contact with infectious material (such as respiratory droplets) or with objects or surfaces contaminated by the causative virus, and is characterized especially by fever, cough, and shortness of breath and may progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure

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