Opinion: Future proofing networks for increasing demands

Broadband networks are built with the aim of lasting for decades and they need to support increasingly heavy traffic at higher bandwidths. Factors that contribute to the network’s reliability and longevity, such as the need for good fibre/cable management and highly reliable connections throughout the network, have been accepted as necessary. However, in addition to meeting today’s needs, operators need to build networks with an eye to future requirements.

The optical fibre network installed today enables us to make phone calls, access the internet and stream video, and will typically see four generations of transmission systems over the network’s expected lifetime. Indeed, the amount of data traffic will continue to increase dramatically with the number of global internet users forecasted to rise to 3 billion users in 2015, with nearly 15 billion fixed and mobile networked devices. In addition, a fourfold increase in fixed broadband speeds since 2010 is forecasted for 2015, as the average fixed broadband speed of 7 Mbps in 2010 is expected to rise to 28 Mbps in 2015.