Experts Warn Internet Is Running Out of Bandwidth

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"Experts predict that consumer demand, already growing at 60 percent a year, will start to exceed supply as early as 2010 because of more people working online and the soaring popularity of bandwidth-hungry Web sites such as YouTube and services such as the BBC's iPlayer.

It will initially lead to computers being disrupted and going offline for several minutes at a time. Beginning in 2012, however, PCs and laptops are likely to operate at a much reduced speed, rendering the Internet an "unreliable toy."


Check out the entire story here:


FOXNews.com - Experts Warn Internet Is Running Out of Bandwidth - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News


Maybe this is why YouTube is deleting accounts



Does anyone know if this is a reality?


Or is this just another Millenium scare?


I would think there is a cluster of sceintists huddled somewhere trying to figure this out


Scot
#bandwidth #experts #internet #running #warn
  • Profile picture of the author Randy Bheites
    I'm pretty sure backbone providers have factored in exponential usage growth into their R&D schedules and are nicely prepared for a 10, 20, even a 100-fold jump in bandwidth demand. That's how they make their billions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scot Standke
    "Analysts express such traffic in exabytes - a quintillion (or a million trillion) bytes or units of computer data. One exabyte is equivalent to 50,000 years' worth of DVD-quality data.



    Monthly traffic across the internet is running at about eight exabytes."

    Man, I can't get my head around that amount of data

    Scot
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  • Profile picture of the author lacraiger
    experts also warned that the Y2K bug would kill your computer.

    funding these experts are a waste of tax dollars.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      This kind of thing comes up every few years. It's not the first time I've seen a story warning the Internet will be running out of bandwidth or space or IP addresses or whatever in a few years.

      We're still here.
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      • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

        It's not the first time I've seen a story warning the Internet will be running out of bandwidth or space or IP addresses or whatever in a few years.
        Bandwidth is a matter of how much copper and fiber you can afford, more money = more bandwidth, the major internet "backbone" providers would be foolish not to invest some of their profits in their infrastructure to make sure "running out of bandwidth" never happens.

        IP addresses, on the other hand, are a real concern. With every passing day the internet gets closer and closer to reaching the "limit" on IPv4 addresses (the 1.2.3.4 style addresses most of us still use today), you can only hold so many numbers in 64 bits before you overflow it. That's one of the major reasons for the development of IPv6, it offers a much larger address space, but somehow I don't see that catching on in a big way before we run out of IPv4 addresses (how many years has it been in the works as the next standard? and we're still using IPv4?).
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
          Originally Posted by stevenh512 View Post

          Bandwidth is a matter of how much copper and fiber you can afford, more money = more bandwidth, the major internet "backbone" providers would be foolish not to invest some of their profits in their infrastructure to make sure "running out of bandwidth" never happens.

          IP addresses, on the other hand, are a real concern. With every passing day the internet gets closer and closer to reaching the "limit" on IPv4 addresses (the 1.2.3.4 style addresses most of us still use today), you can only hold so many numbers in 64 bits before you overflow it. That's one of the major reasons for the development of IPv6, it offers a much larger address space, but somehow I don't see that catching on in a big way before we run out of IPv4 addresses (how many years has it been in the works as the next standard? and we're still using IPv4?).
          Yeah, but we're still here and the solution is already out there for IP addresses. When we get closer to hitting the actual limit, I think you'll see people scrambling pretty quickly to standardize IPv6.

          The point is, in any of those cases, there are solutions. The situation is not as dire as "experts" would have us believe. It's not like we've run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. It's more like we're passing gas stations on every turn; we're just not taking the time to stop and refuel.

          And, I think BigRedNotebook may have nailed it. Remember, what some of the big telecom opponents of net neutrality want to do is double charge people. They either want to charge large sites, like Google, for using their bandwidth or charge users more for "premium" sites or whatnot. My view is Google already pays their Internet connectivity providers bandwidth fees, and I pay Internet access fees, so where do these companies get off thinking they should be able to double-dip? The Internet is not like cable TV, where there may be a limited number of channel slots available. The telecoms need to get past that cable TV mentality.
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    • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
      Originally Posted by lacraiger View Post

      experts also warned that the Y2K bug would kill your computer.

      funding these experts are a waste of tax dollars.
      Well see here is the thing ....

      Get a great copywriter, a marketer, a programmer, and a designer all together on a team ...

      * Create a website with a solution
      * Great copy with alot of hype
      * Great marketing skills set in play with proper marketing of said solution
      * Great High End Graphics from the designer

      Now take you solution with all the hype and nice graphics and toss your marketing pitch to the experts and sell them a solution...

      There you just got back all your tax dollars from a problem that never existed to begin with but the "experts" have been so overwhelmed by all the hype they just had to buy the solution.

      James
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    Now if that is not about a bunch of bull I don't know what is ..

    So who is going to be the first marketer that is going to create an ebook on how to stop the crash of the internet ...lol

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author Craig Fenton
      Hi James:

      Your quote today is the best all week- "So who is going to be the first marketer that is going to create an E-book on how to stop the crash of the internet ...lol"

      Great job! Continue the superlative work.
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    If the swine flu wipes out most of the world it won't be a problem. Then again, the world is supposed to end 12-21-2012 so we won't need the internet anymore.
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    • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
      Originally Posted by valerieSONORA View Post

      If the swine flu wipes out most of the world it won't be a problem. Then again, the world is supposed to end 12-21-2012 so we won't need the internet anymore.
      Maybe the Myans meant the end of the"internet world"

      Of course when the blackhole builder/world ceator/detroyer thingy hits full speed, that will be 2012 too.

      IMHO, Its just another Fauz Doom and gloom report. It is possible IF companies stop making advances but they wont.

      Things like the GE holographic "dvd" that can hold 500 GB of data will be made. And will be available in 2012.

      2012 is a magic number
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      • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
        I have some tin cans and a lot of string I'm not doing anything with...
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      • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
        Originally Posted by GarrieWilson View Post

        IMHO, Its just another Fauz Doom and gloom report. It is possible IF companies stop making advances but they wont.
        Exactly....I don't think the people at AT&T, WorldCom etc are just sitting on their hands, given up, just waiting for the end... :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
        Originally Posted by GarrieWilson View Post

        Maybe the Myans meant the end of the"internet world"
        LOL that could be. Those Mayans were smart. Too bad they're not around today.

        Things like the GE holographic "dvd" that can hold 500 GB of data will be made. And will be available in 2012.

        2012 is a magic number
        Oh I hope they make it in early 2012 so people have time to use it before the world ends on 12-21-2012
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    • Profile picture of the author zerofill
      Originally Posted by valerieSONORA View Post

      If the swine flu wipes out most of the world it won't be a problem. Then again, the world is supposed to end 12-21-2012 so we won't need the internet anymore.
      Yeah I thought about getting into the bomb shelter business like during the cold war hehe...
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  • Profile picture of the author Scot Standke
    I can see it already...

    "The Death Of The Internet"

    Only eight exabytes worth will ever be sold! Don't waste another minute, order yours today.

    Even if it's 2 A.M.

    Plus...

    If you order now I'll also include PLR rights to my my best seller, "How To Waterproof A Refrigerator Box For Maximum Comfort During The Rainy Season"

    Scot
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    What no WSO ....LOL

    James
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    How much bandwidth do you guys use each month?
    Most Australians have capped bandwidth plans. eg I'm capped at just 30GB on my $40 plan. I could pay for more but I don't really need it.


    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Without getting into politics, a chunk of the Obama stimulus package is intended to increase/improve the infrastructure of the Net. Whether it's enough money, too much or not enough, I don't know.
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    • Profile picture of the author bushwood
      Well Kurt, that was met with a resounding "THUD!"
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    Originally Posted by Traffic-Bug View Post

    The internet is just a lifeless thing, if it is down, i would be more than happy to just go and sleep. Who cares about the internet unless there is some phsyical monitary reward from it?
    Ermm, were u joking? Couldn't tell. Some people make 100% of their income to pay the bills online. I guess that's a monetary reward.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Chambless
    Oh No! the internet is going to break! Another massive disaster is about to happen!
    We must spend hundreds of billions of dollars to avert this world ending calamity!!!! Immediatly, before anyone has time to figure out the truth!

    Can anyone say economic bailout/stimulus? How about "Global warming"?

    Sheesh!!

    David
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    • Profile picture of the author BigRedNotebook
      Might it be that the people who are making sure this "story" gets coverage are closely tied to those who oppose net neutrality.

      Could it be that the best way to squash net neutrality and to provide those big ol' Telecoms with greater moneymaking opportunities is to scare the ever-living crap out of everyone about the alleged consequences of net neutrality?

      I'm taking a stance on the issue of neutrality here. That's a different can of beans...

      However, I have my suspicions that this story is being actively promoted for financial and policy reasons more than any basis in reality.

      That's just my guess, though.

      Delhoitte and Touche have been predicting a meltdown since 2007 but it's a new story today. Why? The new Nemertes report? Those guys certainly aren't big net neutrality advocates. The stuff coming from the Internet Innovation Alliance? They're a Telecom mouthpiece whose existence revolves around putting an end to net neutrality. Phil Kerpen, who despises net neutrality?

      Are you seeing a trend?

      Maybe all of those folks are right and net neutrality really is going to screw us all.

      Then again, maybe they have some other "interests" and the potential eventual political advantage of whipping folks into a frenzy is just too hard to resist.

      All I'm saying is that you need to take the Death of the Internet with a big grain of salt until we start to see more objective analyses of the role of net neutrality, capacity and likely demand.
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  • Profile picture of the author TelegramSam
    I'm already putting plans in place for the Y3K bug that is looming :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author cyrix01
      Here's something interesting that I just read on Wikipedia:

      "...in 2007 YouTube consumed as much bandwidth as the entire Internet in 2000."
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    • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
      Originally Posted by TelegramSam View Post

      I'm already putting plans in place for the Y3K bug that is looming :-)
      Actually the big money is in fixing the Y10K bug - that's a real problem as I've yet to see a database or OS that can handle a 5-digit year. Of course we have over 7990 years to get it fixed, plenty of time for Microsoft to release a service pack to cure it.

      But then if the world ends in December 2012 it won't be an issue. At least we won't have to worry about Christmas shopping that year.

      As for the Internet running out of bandwidth the solution is simple - we should all start using smaller fonts!

      :rolleyes:

      Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
    Sounds like a "Virtual Y2K-Like Scare".....
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    • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
      I thought it didn't matter anymore.

      We're going to use cloud computing and all the bandwidth will fall in raindrops.

      Martin
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  • Profile picture of the author Gurnell
    I'm sure they will come up with something to solve this problem.Product in the making.
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Crim
    It's the same thing where you see that the postal service is going to be charging for email due to lost revenue. Plus you have to look at the source there, Fox News...

    "Experts" in the media world like to take a snap shot in time and play it off as fact that in that millisecond if it were static in a relatively short time everything comes to a halt in X time frame and doom and gloom happens. It is how they get attention and keep themselves in the public eye.

    I do not know any infrastructure especially based on computer technology that is not maintained and parts upgraded to meet the demand of the users needs. Imagine if ISP's just stopped maintaining their equipment, if they want to stay in business they will keep investing and improving their technologies.

    Everything is fueled by demand. If one company decides to stop innovating then shortly another one will take it's place, new services and products will be created to fill the demand. All stories like these NEVER take into consideration this, if they did they wouldn't have a story.


    - Terry
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  • Profile picture of the author tssen
    whats the best way to control people? fear =D
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    The internet is like the marketplace - it regulates itself. If it becomes bogged down, less people will be inclined to use it, forcing companies that make revenues from the backbone portion of the internet to work hard at increasing the capacity.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brawnydt
      As for the Internet running out of bandwidth the solution is simple - we should all start using smaller fonts!


      Don't you watch the daily show and colbert report? Nothing on fox news is reliable. They are nothing but fear mongers who prey on peoples gullibility. Now when I read this report on a reliable website I'll actually take it seriously.
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  • Profile picture of the author Devon Brown
    I'll make my tin foil hat just in case, but I think the Internet breaking is highly unlikely.
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  • Profile picture of the author webpromotions
    The internet won't 'break'...Al Gore invented it so he obviously has the knowledge to fix it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Scot Standke
      Originally Posted by Doug English View Post

      The internet won't 'break'...Al Gore invented it so he obviously has the knowledge to fix it.
      LMAO!

      I think AlGore is pretty busy working on the global warming issue, and trying to make a buck to pay his own enormous power and light bill.

      Scot
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by Doug English View Post

      The internet won't 'break'...Al Gore invented it so he obviously has the knowledge to fix it.
      Al Gore created the Internet so he could warn the world of the dangers of fossil fuels and global warming without having to take plane trips around the world to make speeches.

      Oh, wait...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Iser
    Again, fear is money. Just steer clear from the tinfoil hat and you'll be fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by Doug English View Post

      The internet won't 'break'...Al Gore invented it so he obviously has the knowledge to fix it.
      Originally Posted by Scot Standke View Post

      LMAO!

      I think AlGore is pretty busy working on the global warming issue, and trying to make a buck to pay his own enormous power and light bill.

      Scot
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      Al Gore created the Internet so he could warn the world of the dangers of fossil fuels and global warming without having to take plane trips around the world to make speeches.

      Oh, wait...
      We could always use GW Bush's plan and use some of the other Internets.
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
    Don't worry...

    I am upgrading the internet as we speak. I am joint venturing with Steve to distribute tin foil hats across the globe :-)

    These hats when worn in close proximity of an internet connection will boost that connection by around 50 horsepower.

    The combined cooperation of just 1 million tinfoil hat wearing internet users will create an exponential reaction multiplying the effect generating a googolplex of bandwidth.

    Additionally this googolplex can easily be uplinked to the Large Hadron Collider and networked with the grid.

    The added benefit is that these tinfoil hats are also effective flu reflectors.

    Internet users face regular "brownouts" that will freeze their computers as capacity runs out in cyberspace, according to research to be published later this year.
    What I want to know is how this brown stuff is going to get into my computer to freeze it?

    That is just brilliant journalism.

    I wonder if that subhead was written on a typewriter by some 90 year old non computer using retiree?
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  • Profile picture of the author Stallion
    I don't think this is doom and gloom, but I think it's a reality. It's pretty apparent that it is a reality by the fight in net neutrality. If net neutrality advances, than the backbone will continue to have difficulties.

    The internet won't die, but they'll do the most obvious thing... slow down.
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGreenGo
    Crap, guess I better learn to do home parties now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fox30
    another millenium scare IMO!
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    I think that once google gives up on trying to make youtube profitable, the bandwidth will come back. If someone wants to watch Aunt Martha pop a zit on her back in HD, then let them pay for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author blargins
    It's ok everyone. I've just backed up the internet to a floppy disc.
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    • Profile picture of the author garyv
      Originally Posted by blargins View Post

      It's ok everyone. I've just backed up the internet to a floppy disc.
      You're too late - I already have it on a punch card.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    Thank God I don't have to worry about this because, like Homer Simpson, I already reached the end of the internet...

    Mike Hill
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  • Profile picture of the author petevamp
    Lol I remember two years ago when they claimed they were running out of dot com domain names too we see where that has gotten them. I can still make any 2 word domain name I want and there are a few that are one words left. Such as blissmiss I bet thats available I know my name is available I also know just my last name is available. So I will believe it when I see it. More and more people are building up there own hosting compainees every single day we will not have to worry about it. So big wig with alot of money already will see it as a cash cow and fork out the cash to start up a hosting site.
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  • Profile picture of the author AfteraDream
    Don't really buy it...
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