Internet Brown Out In Two Years?

[Acturus]

Internet 'brownout' imminent, study warns

Internet 'brownout' imminent, study warns
ROBERTO ROCHA, The Gazette
Published: Wednesday, November 21 2007
YouTube videos, Skype calls and file sharing have the Internet bursting at the seams, which might slow the online experience to a crawl starting in two years, a report coming from the United States warns.

Unless $137 billion U.S. is invested worldwide to upgrade networks, demand will outstrip capacity. The result, the report from Nemertes Research says, will be "brownouts" in service.

"It may take more than one attempt to confirm an online purchase, or it may take longer to download the latest video from YouTube," the report said.

The study was commissioned by the Internet Innovation Alliance, a lobby group for large service providers and equipment makers such as AT&T and Nortel Networks.

The group argues that a stagnant capacity will choke innovation on the Internet - a position others say is hogwash meant to give service providers the freedom to jockey Internet traffic.

It's another volley at Net neutrality, a buzz term that has Internet firms such as Google and telephone companies such as Comcast locked in battle for lawmakers' votes.

On one side, telephone and cable companies say big Internet content makers that boast heavy traffic - think streaming videos - should pay a premium for hogging bandwidth.

The other, "Net neutral," side says the Internet should be unfettered and free - as it was purportedly designed to be.

The "brownout" alarm has been sounded before. This year, a Deloitte Consulting report said the capacity tipping point might happen in 2007.

Local cable Internet provider Videotron Ltd. doesn't see a capacity crunch happening.

"Not everyone will watch TV 24/7 and download movies nonstop," Videotron spokesperson Isabelle Dessureault said.

Local companies have ways of ensuring their pipes aren't overloaded. Videotron has put bandwidth caps on high-calibre users. Bell Sympatico admitted to curbing users who share a lot of files in peer-to-peer networks.

These methods, the companies said, ensure the majority of customers aren't adversely affected by Internet gluttons.

Amit Kaminer, a telecom analyst at research firm SeaBoard Group, said fears of a capacity crunch are unfounded, since the technology to transmit data is always improving.

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Heard this on the radio this morning, didn't see a thred about it...

[Dimmauk]

Cause its Olde. Technology has changed since.

[0ni0n]

Nothing smells like friday like a good cup of fearmongering...

[Correction]

2007 called, they want their handwaving scare tactic press releases back.

[Pikarya]

ROBERTO ROCHA, The Gazette

I stopped reading here.

[Vekta]

If only it would be a godsend for all the datacomms electricians out there who have no work at the moment.

[Elvis]

Local companies have ways of ensuring their pipes aren't overloaded.

http://www.omg-ponies.com/wp-content...ial_photo1.jpg

[Kaisha]

It's an easy way to see which ISPs are going to rear their ugly heads by their comments on the subject at least.

[MisterBob]

Why did you post an article about potential internet brownouts in 2007?

[Kang]

Meh stop using dial up then

[Mizango]

Y2k, beware.

[Myst]

nov 21. 2007

looks legit

[Myst]

in a capitalist market, shit will fix itself most of the time. no one gives credit to verizon for the AMAZING overhaul they've accomplished transforming the cell phone from a brain tumor giver to a mobile computer in the last ten years. there is nothing to fucking worry about. demand for internet is growing and so should the concern for performance in the eyes of the ones that provide it.

[MyTitthias]

Unless $137 billion U.S. is invested worldwide to upgrade networks, demand will outstrip capacity. The result, the report from Nemertes Research says, will be "brownouts" in service.

The study was commissioned by the Internet Innovation Alliance, a lobby group for large service providers and equipment makers such as AT&T and Nortel Networks.

Hmmm, seems like someone wants some government funding...

[Ramor]

Y2k, beware.

FFFFF you beat me to it, well played sir

[Zilong]

God, I wish pluto's kiss would finally happen, it's been 3.5 years overdue now.

[SephYuyX]

Oh no, Swine Flu will kill us all too.

[Ramor]

In honor of swine flu I went out and made out with a mexican and licked some doorknobs, results pending the night.

[Skjie]

Had to go find one of my old text books. Thank God for google books. We haven't even gotten close to what the fibre already in the ground can do.

Data and computer communications - Google Book Search

[Plow]

Internet 'brownout' imminent, study warns



Heard this on the radio this morning, didn't see a thred about it...

The best part is:

Unless $137 billion U.S. is invested worldwide to upgrade networks, demand will outstrip capacity. The result, the report from Nemertes Research says, will be "brownouts" in service.

The study was commissioned by the Internet Innovation Alliance, a lobby group for large service providers and equipment makers such as AT&T and Nortel Networks.