H1N1 pandemic might lead to an increase in the internet usage, warn government authorities. Network World says that this could cause a serious congestion in network access.

Federal government watchdogs said that the H1N1 pandemic will lead to a considerable increase in the number of people using the interne that would create serious network access congestion.

The involvement of the government or service providers limiting the access to network may be able to fix the problems or by asking people to stop the streaming videos for some time.

A Government Accountability Office report looking at the impact of a pandemic on the internet stated that congestion affecting home users is likely to come about because the parts of providers' DSL cable, satellite, and other types of networks that provide Internet access from residential neighborhoods are not built to carry all the potential traffic which the users could generate in a specific neighborhood.

The GAO added that internet congestion is likely to occur in localities which close down schools following which the children will deviate to the internet for entertainment.

Department of Homeland Security is responsible for ensuring that critical telecommunications infrastructure stays up and running during periods of national duress.

Officials from the DHS assured Lungren and other members of the Homeland Security subcommittee that they are well aware of the potential problem and that they are working on a report which will look to solutions.