Twitch to Shut Down Operations in Korea due to Exorbitant Bandwidth Costs
In a recent blog post, Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, announced that the streaming platform will cease operations in South Korea as of February 27, 2024. The reason for this decision is the significantly high cost of operating Twitch in Korea due to expensive bandwidth rates.
Cost of Operating Network in Korea Ten Times More Expensive
According to Clancy’s post, the cost of running a network in South Korea is ten times more expensive than in most other countries. Twitch had tried various initiatives to keep the platform operational in the country, such as adjusting the source quality of streams to a maximum resolution of 720p and experimenting with a ‘peer-to-peer’ model. However, these efforts did not yield the desired results.
Average Bandwidth Rates in Korea Revealed
On Twitter, user ‘Knoebel’ shared data revealing the average bandwidth rates in South Korea that are much higher than in countries like Japan and the United States, shedding light on why operating Twitch in the country is so costly.
How Will This Affect Twitch Users?
If you are a Twitch user in South Korea, this development may impact you. Stay tuned for more updates on Insider Gaming.
