SAN JOSE, CA – Global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic will increase nearly three-fold over the next five years due to more Internet users and devices, faster broadband speeds and more video viewing, according to a new report from Cisco.
According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index – Global Forecast and Service Adoption for 2013 to 2018, the projected annual IP traffic for 2018 will be greater than all IP traffic that has been generated globally from 1984 – 2013 (1.3 zettabytes). A zettabyte is equal to 1,000 exabytes and precedes the yottabyte unit of measurement.
The composition of IP traffic will shift dramatically in the coming few years, as the majority of traffic will originate from devices other than personal computers (PCs) for the first time in the history of the Internet. Wi-Fi traffic will exceed wired traffic for the first time and high-definition (HD) video will generate more traffic than standard definition (SD) video.
The Internet of Everything is also gaining momentum and by 2018 there will be nearly as many machine-to-machine (M2M) connections as there are people on earth. Smart cars will have nearly four M2M modules per car.
In the more immediate future, the reports predicts that the FIFA World Cup 2014, set to begin Thursday, will generate 4.3 exabytes of IP traffic, which is three times the amount of monthly IP traffic currently generated by host country Brazil. In addition, Internet traffic generated by the 60,000 people in a stadium and traveling to games is forecasted to surpass the busy-hour traffic from all 94 million smartphone subscribers in Brazil (busy-hour is a 60-minute period with the maximum total traffic load in a given 24-hour period).
Other highlights from the report include:
– The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will generate the most IP traffic by 2018, with 47.6 exabytes (36% of the global IP traffic) per month. With the world's largest population and the most devices/connections, APAC's increased network usage will maintain its position as the top traffic-generating region through 2018;
– The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region will continue to be the fastest growing IP traffic region from 2013 – 2018 with a five-fold growth and a 38% CAGR;
– By 2018, the highest traffic-generating countries will be the United States with 37 exabytes per month and China with 18 exabytes per month;
– The countries with the fastest IP traffic growth will be India with a 39% CAGR from 2013 to 2018, followed by Indonesia with a 37% CAGR.
"Our first Cisco Visual Networking Index nine years ago established the zettabyte as a major milestone for global IP traffic”, said Doug Webster, VP of products and solutions marketing, in the report’s news release. “Today, we are firmly in the 'Zettabyte Era' and witnessing incredible innovations and shifts in the industry. The reality of the Internet of Everything (IoE), the increasing demand for network mobility, and the emergence of 4K video are among the key trends highlighted in this year's forecast that represent significant opportunities for service providers today and in the immediate future."
