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How the tablet generation is pushing networks to the edge: research from Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs shows impact of surging video consumptionDec 13, 2012 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Paris, December 13, 2012 -- With Christmas expected to bring anotherleap in ownership of tablets, smartphones and other devices, new research from Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent (EuronextParis and NYSE: ALU) suggests that increasing consumption of video content onsuch devices will push the wired broadband networks that carry this traffictotheir absolute limits over the next decade. - Bell Labs projections suggest that, by 2020, consumers in the United Statesalone will access seven hours of video each day -- as opposed to 4.8hours today,and will increasingly consume this additional video on tablets,both at home and on the go. - Significantly, the research also points to a dramatic shift in viewinghabits, as consumers switch from broadcast content to video-on-demand services,which will grow to 70% of daily consumption compared with 33%today. - The projections also suggest a twelve times increase in internetvideo content as cloud services, news sites and social networking applicationsbecome more video based, and continuously accessible anywhere, anytime ontablets. Importantly, the study also highlighted how these trends will stretch thecapabilities the residential broadband networks many service providers usetoday: as the delivery of video content rapidly moves from traditionalbroadcast TV to the 'unicast' delivery of personalized content to individuals,disproportionate pressure will be placed on the " IP edge ' ofthese networks. The IP -- or Internet Protocol - edge is the part of the networkwhere most of the intelligence is needed to deliver sophisticated video andhigh-speed Internet services is located. Broadcast is a much more efficient wayof delivering video services, so the move to unicast creates enormous bandwidthdemands on networks. Marcus Weldon, Chief Technology Officer, Alcatel-Lucent, said: "Delivery ofvideo from the cloud and from content delivery networks to tablets, TVs andsmartphones - with guaranteed quality -, presents an exciting new revenueopportunity for communications service providers, but only if they are preparedto take advantage of it. Left unmanaged, the rapid growth in video traffic canturn into a deluge and spell disaster. It is important to look at where serviceproviders' investments can have the most impact, and this research makes clearthat the IP edge of both wireline and wireless networks -- which areincreasingly becoming one and the same - offers the greatest opportunity toimprove network performance. At the same time, it also presents the greatestsource of risk if not managed appropriately." Bell Labs found that on-demand video services, such as high definitionpremium movie services as well as video sharing sites, will become even morepopular over the next five years. As a result, on-demand video will command anincreased share of viewing hours, causing peak-hour traffic at the 'edge' ofnew IP-based networks to grow 2.5 times faster than the amount of traffic onthe broadband connections reaching households. This challenge will need to beaddressed, comprehensively, if communications service providers are to maintaintheir ability to deliver high-quality residential multimedia services toconsumers. Specific Findings The study compared data about video usage and growth from 2012 to 2020 in'triple-play' (video, data and voice) communications service providers, andidentified the following trends: - The total time spent watching video will grow from 4.8 hours to sevenhours per-user, per-day . Much of this contribution will come from thelatest generation of consumers who are more likely to multi-task -- such aswatching television while conducting a video call on their tablet - resultingin seven hours worth of video consumed in as little as five hours. - The proportion of time spent watching managed video-on-demand services andweb-based video (also known as over-the-top - 'OTT' - providers) will growfrom 33% to 77% . This will come at the expense of traditional broadcast TVservices, whose relative share of time will drop from 66% to 10%. - Internet-based video consumption each year will grow twelvefold ,from 90 Exabytes to 1.1 Zettabyes . - Consumption of managed video-on-demand from services providers versus OTTsis expected grow at 28 percent annual rate , from 44 Exabytes to 244Exabytes. - 10.5% of managed video consumption and 8.5% of OTT video consumptionwill occur at the peak hour, 8:00 p.m. Explore the study in more detail in this article in our online publication TechZine, or visit our website to learnmore about how service providers can Energize theEdge . About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governmentsaround the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field ofnetworking and communications technology, products and services. The company ishome to Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost research centers, responsiblefor breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry.Alcatel-Lucent was named one of MIT Technology Review's 2012 Top 50 list of the"World's Most Innovative Companies" for breakthroughs such as lightRadio(TM),which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks whiledelivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations,Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable andmore accessible as we pursue our mission - Realizing the Potential of aConnected World. With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experiencedglobal services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a localpartner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billionin 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com , read the latest posts on theAlcatel-Lucent blog: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Companyon Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent . Contact the Alcatel-Lucent Press Office: [email protected] ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. |