How Data Consumption is Driving Innovation
Thursday, 03. 11. 2010 – Category: T2 Communications
As has been in discussed in recent articles “The Demand for the Data Pipe” and “Does FTTH Solve Our Data Needs?,” the increasing data needs of even the most average consumer are causing us to reconsider how we deploy and manage our networks. This evolution in communication and entertainment stands to change not just network operators, but nearly every level of the network food chain. As a result, it is likely that we are on the verge of another massive innovation streak to accommodate the needs of consumers.
The Role of Traditional Service Providers
If the average person’s phone and television needs move over their data connection, what does that do to traditional providers? Likely it changes the marketplace into single pool of competing data network managers. Wireless and wireline providers would all be part of a single category that exclusively offer data connections. While some may choose to also offer over the top services like VoIP and video, they will do so while competing against an even more aggressive pool of providers that could easily come from anywhere in the world.
Hybrid Devices
As we move toward a single connection, the desire and ability to have our digital devices handle multiple activities grows. We no longer want our phone to just make calls; it also needs to check e-mails, surf the web and allow us to watch television. HDTVs are now being equipped with data connections that allow users to surf the web and take advantage of a more interactive viewing experience.
The technology is not just limited to the devices the traditional phone, television and computer. The Amazon Kindle isn’t any of these, but still actively accesses the data network. Apple’s iPad is not quite a computer and not quite a television. There are even refrigerators available that have televisions in them.
Smart Grid
As more and more devices connect to the network, we move closer towards the idea of building a smart grid. This includes our appliances, which will have ability to be more interactive. Our fridge will notify us on our mobile device that we are now out of milk and need to pick up more on the way home. Our dryer will flash a announcement on our television alerting us that the lint trap is full and therefore limiting energy efficiency.
Our utility networks will also become linked into this smart grid. Our energy consumption (or production for those adding solar panels and wind turbines) is becoming more interactive, with energy companies working to be able to head off black outs by minimizing people’s available energy supply during peak summer months. It is all possible and will require a strong data network.
Hardware and Software
In an all-digital world, there is always going to be a need for new devices and programs. Still, some technologies may explode as a result of the change. With large video stream demands, compression technologies will be need to make it run seamlessly. Application developers will be needed to take those video streams and make the customizable to the device accessing it. Making the experience similar between phones, televisions, computers and other devices will require major development initiative for each product.
IPv6
Even with full fiber networks, the demands for the network are going to force us to reconsider how the network itself works. Already, there is much talk of the inevitable need to move from IPv4 to IPv6 to make additional IPs available and pursuer a multicast environment for large deployment of video and other high bandwidth products. As the smart grid idea begins to deploy, it seems clear that way we communicate on a data network is going to grow bigger, stronger and faster.
David Fleming works for next-generation service provider T² Communications, a CornerWorld company.
Tags: applications, data consumption, David Fleming, internet, IPv6, multicast, service provider, smart grid, VoIP