Worldwide demand for broadband has hit a new milestone.
Total global internet bandwidth has topped 1,000 Tb/s, reaching 1,1217 Tb/s in 2023—a compound annual growth rate of 28%. While the pace of growth has slowed from the extreme surge of the pandemic, new sources of demand continue to emerge for high-throughput, low-latency, ultra-reliable networks.
Drivers of increased demand
High-definition video continues to be a major driver, with Netflix services alone now accounting for 15% of global internet traffic, and around 75% of households in developed markets now using some form of video streaming.
The rise of multiplayer online gaming is another. While today, most game content is downloaded ahead of play, console-less cloud gaming may break out of its niche in the future, with the need to render the entire game in real time set to push bandwidth demands up.
On the business side, drivers include streaming video with real-time analytics for security and quality control, provision of bandwidth to enable remote workers to collaborate seamlessly, and increased use of real-time data processing in the cloud. Specific real-time use cases include smart transportation, smart energy grids, telehealth services, autonomous vehicles and remote control of industrial equipment.
The advent of real-time predictive analytics and generative AI is set to be a game-changer, with more businesses relying on instantaneous results from cloud-based analytics services and large language models (LLMs). In fact, Omdia is predicting that by 2030, nearly two-thirds of global data traffic will involve artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Meeting today’s requirements with next-generation network
These new, real-time use cases underscore the necessity for high-reliability networks that can accommodate and adapt to surging demand while lowering costs for operators.
While today’s networks can often cope with raw bandwidth demand, due to advance capacity planning, that demand is becoming harder to service in a cost-effective way. The combined cost of manual network management, maintaining and replacing ageing parts, and spiralling energy prices means operators need to consider new ways of meeting bandwidth requirements.
On the upside, investing in a next-generation network doesn’t just mean being ready for surging demand for bandwidth, latency and reliability. It can also provide the flexibility, adaptability and openness required to support new value-added services and business models.
The dramatic reductions in energy consumption achievable with the latest-generation coherent optics also mean significantly lower energy costs and the opportunity to demonstrate sustainability leadership.
Subsea operator Aqua Comms, for example, estimated that it could reduce overall power consumption by 54% in W/Tb across the system and 56% in power draw in its transatlantic fiber pair by leveraging the latest optical technologies.
Scale for the future with an adaptive network
With the CAGR for international bandwidth projected to rise to 36% by 2026, investing in a next-generation network now will put operators in good position to meet the demands of the future.
At Ciena, we believe that an adaptive network is the most beneficial choice for operators that want to capitalize on the huge variety of emerging use cases—from IoT connectivity to mobile gigabit-per-second broadband for everyone.
An adaptive network goes beyond autonomous networking to bring real intelligence and flexibility to the network. It leverages intelligent automation and uses streaming telemetry, data-driven analytics, and intent-based policies to rapidly self-configure, self-optimize, and self-heal by constantly assessing and addressing ongoing network pressures and demands.
With an adaptive network, operators of all kinds can optimize their existing infrastructures
while incorporating new technologies and ways of leveraging their network assets. And once in place, it provides a future-ready foundation that allows operators to stay ahead of technological and user behaviour changes.
Get expert help to prepare for future bandwidth demands
A network transformation can seem daunting, even when there are clear business benefits to be had from modernizing the network. Working with an experienced partner can lower the cost and risk of the project and ensure optimal outcomes for the business and for its customers.
Ciena has over 30 years’ experience of working with the world’s largest network providers, helping them to build some of the most adaptive, customer-centric networks. If you’d like to know more about our network transformation services, visit knowledge.ciena.com/services.