NEW DELHI: Streaming and internet companies such as Amazon, Netflix, Hotstar , Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook will reduce the quality of content on their platforms to ease internet traffic and free up the network as more and more people, now at home due to coronavirus restrictions and national lockdown, consume the services.Many companies are reducing their streaming content from HD (high-definition) to SD (standard definition) as reports of networks getting choked are rising with people working from home, and also increasing consumption of internet services.“With so many people now at home full-time due to Covid-19, we have already begun the effort to reduce streaming bitrates for Amazon Prime Video,” Amazon said.Facebook runs its own platform as well as Instagram and Whatsapp . “To help alleviate any potential network congestion, we will temporarily reduce bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram in India. We are committed to working with our partners to manage any bandwidth constraints during this period of heavy demand, while also ensuring people are able to remain connected using Facebook apps and services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” a company spokesperson said.Telecom industry body COAI (cellular operators’ association of India) had written to the department of telecom (DoT) as well as the streaming companies to reduce the load on networks due to the growing load.“We understand that there are various measures that the streaming platform companies can undertake in this present situation to continue to provide a suitable level of service to their customers at the most appropriate bitrate required, one such measure being temporarily moving to SD (Standard Definition) rather than HD (Hi Definition) streaming. We understand that there may be other such technical measures that may be taken to ease the pressure on infrastructure,” COAI had said in the letter to the internet companies.Data and internet consumption in the country has shot up manifold as people consumer higher amounts of content while being at home.