Pokemon Go’s Impact On Network Infrastructure

Pokémon Go is taking the world by storm! Adults and children alike are following their phones around looking to capture those elusive Pokémon. The game has been installed on 5.16% of all US Android Smartphones and Niantic Labs, the game developers, simply were not ready for the popularity of the game, and the strain it would cause on their IT infrastructure. The amount of users who have downloaded the game have caused servers to crash, and networks to slow to the extent that they have had to delay roll out of the game in the UK, Europe and Japan. Michael Hack, SVP of EMEA Operations at Ipswitch commented below.

Michael Hack, SVP of EMEA Operations at Ipswitch:

“It seems that Niantic Labs, the developers for Pokemon, have greatly underestimated the strain that the popularity of Pokemon Go could cause its network infrastructure. In gearing up for this launch, you’d expect that various scenarios were planned for. However, perhaps not enough time and investment went in to preparing the infrastructure to cope with such a huge demand.

“Networked servers are only as robust as the infrastructure and network management tools supporting them. This oversight will have cost the company greatly. International launches have had to be postponed this week, whilst IT teams work to get the supporting network up to scratch.

“You’d assume that, as their business model depends on continuity, Niantic would have access protected by pretty sophisticated network monitoring tools with visualisation technologies and dynamic mapping. If configured properly, these should closely watch all aspects of network demand and performance and will predict problem areas before they happen.

“Network peaks are tough to manage at the best of times. You need to make sure you have the best skills and technologies available for the job, or pay the price.”