FINAL WORD
Futureproofing connectivity with lightpowered networks
Dr Gonzalo Camarillo, Chair of the Marketing Steering Committee, the IOWN Global Forum and Head of Implementation Components, Ericsson, on adopting APNs.
By the end of this decade, the way we consume and transmit data will be drastically different. In 2022, the average mobile user in Europe went through about 15GB of data per month – mostly for streaming, browsing and gaming.
Fast-forward to 2030, and that number is expected to skyrocket past 75GB.
AI, cloud gaming, immersive media and ultra-HD streaming are pushing our networks to their limits.
Right now, most of our digital infrastructure is built on electronic switching – using electric signals to move data. It’ s worked well so far, but it’ s starting to buckle under the demand for instantaneous data processing and response. A few milliseconds of lag might not matter when loading a webpage, but what about self-driving cars or remote surgery? Even the tiniest delay could have serious consequences.
And then there’ s the sustainability issue. Data centers already consume around 1 % of global electricity, and by 2030, that number could almost triple. As our data demands grow, so does the strain on energy resources. If we don’ t rethink how we build our networks, we’ ll hit a wall – both in speed and sustainability.
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