Surprising Predictions About Internet Traffic

Posted 2014-07-09

Thanks to an insatiable worldwide demand for connectivity, Internet traffic will soar to staggering levels over the next several years, according to recent research from Cisco. The resulting report, "Cisco Visual Networking Index Global Forecast and Service Adoption for 2013 to 2018," presents a wide range of predictions that cover the growth of overall IP traffic, mobile data and streaming video, among other drivers. All of this bodes well for virtually all technology professionals—particularly those who specialize in hot niches, such as mobility, network systems operations, data analytics (especially unstructured), and content generation and support. "We are … witnessing incredible innovations and shifts in the industry," says Doug Webster, vice president of products and solutions marketing for Cisco. "The reality of the Internet of everything, the increasing demand for network mobility and the emergence of 4K video are [driving] significant opportunities for service providers today and in the immediate future." The forecast was compiled from independent analyst forecasts and real-world mobile data usage studies, along with Cisco's own estimates.

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Heavy Traffic, Part I

Annual global IP traffic will surpass the zettabyte threshold in 2016, and increase 21% every year through 2018.
Heavy Traffic, Part II

By 2018, global Internet traffic will be equate to 64 times the volume of the entire global Internet in 2005, reaching 14 gigabytes per capita—up from 5 gigabytes per capita in 2013.
Fast Lane

Global fixed broadband speeds will reach 42 Mbps by 2018, up from 16 Mbps in 2013.
Device Dominance

Mobile data traffic will grow 61% every year and will reach 15.9 exabytes per month in 2018.
Binge Viewing

Nearly one million minutes of video content will cross global IP networks by 2018. That's 79% of all consumer traffic, up from 66% last year.
Emerging Presence

55% of all Internet traffic will cross content delivery networks by 2018, up from 36% last year.
Desktop Dinosaurs

Non-PC machines will account for 57% of total IP traffic by 2018, up from 33% last year.
Gadget Glut

In 2018, there will be nearly three networked devices for every person, up from nearly two devices in 2013.
Visualized Enterprise

Global business IP traffic will grow 18% a year from now through 2018, and the use of advanced video communications will double during that time.
Hot Regions

IP traffic in the Middle East and Africa will grow by 38% every year through 2018, making them the top growth regions. IP traffic in North America will increase 20% a year.
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