For any day ending in “y,” commuters across the country fire up the latest traffic app to find the fastest, most efficient route to work. Apps like Waze and Google Maps give commuters access to up-to-the-minute traffic data and alerts to get them to the office on time. It’s no coincidence that we depend on minimal congestion on our data network to successfully navigate away from congestion on the roads. In areas where traffic is especially bad, the network is probably strained, highlighting the need for fast, strong internet connections. For this, and a host of reasons we have explored on this blog, television white spaces (TVWS) provide a much-needed complement to the current data network to alleviate the congestion American data users face.
At ACT | The App Association, we engage with America’s innovators every day. We bet that someday soon, our cars will drive themselves and decide the most efficient route to every one of our eventual destinations. The success of this innovation depends on a strong data connection, particularly if it exists in an environment even more overloaded with internet traffic. When self-driving cars finally arrive, we expect they will join a massive fleet of other wireless machine-to-machine communications—otherwise referred to as the internet of things (IoT). Each IoT innovation depends on strong, fast network connectivity to gather and share data, and ensure our safety on the roads, in the factory, on the farm, and elsewhere.
Cisco’s aptly named “Zettabyte Era” report identifies several interesting trends likely to contribute to network congestion in the not-too-distant future. First, the world is going mobile at breakneck speed, and smartphones will soon overtake personal computers (PCs) as the main generators of internet traffic. Last year, PCs accounted for 46 percent of global internet traffic, and that share is projected to drop to a mere 25 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, the estimate suggests that traffic from wireless and mobile devices will account for more than 63 percent of internet traffic by 2021.
Second, the burgeoning IoT will inevitably stimulate much more internet traffic. Between now and 2021, IoT traffic is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of a whopping 49 percent, compared to just 29 percent for tablets. Notably, IoT connections for connected health technologies are growing at a rate of about 30 percent. These devices often use data-hungry applications like video for remote monitoring practices; therefore, their growth in traffic will likely exceed the growth in number of connections. By 2021, there are expected to be an astounding 1.75 IoT connections per “member of the global population;” that’s nearly two connections for every person.
Third, video will continue to grow and dominate among internet traffic generators. Video accounts for about 50 exabytes of data per month around the globe, or about half of all current app traffic. By 2021, video is expected to generate nearly 200 exabytes of data per month, or two-thirds of total traffic attributable to the apps we use every day.
Each of these data traffic trends point in the same direction: up. Providers are beginning to address this drastic growth in internet traffic. Broadband providers are increasing investment in their networks to improve data efficiency and capacity, and service providers are exploring and using content delivery networks. Though these tangible infrastructure investments are important, the airwaves on which mobile internet traffic runs will need substantial infrastructure improvements as well.
5G networks, which feature high-density arrangements of small antennae or “cells” that emit short-range signals, are being deployed by broadband providers across the nation to address this need. We firmly believe they should be complemented by TVWS, which emit broadband signals over a much longer range than their 5G counterparts. In fact, TVWS supports internet speeds of up to 100 MB/sec, over up to 10 miles, providing a vital foundation for the impending growth in internet traffic. What’s more, TVWS utilize unused television spectrum bands. They are unlicensed, meaning no single broadband provider can own exclusive rights. This allows service providers to partner with local broadband carriers to transmit TVWS signals to users who need it. TVWS long-range data capabilities are not only ideal for vast, remote rural communities, but they also have significant benefits for dense urban areas where internet congestion is likely to frustrate internet users.
For their multifaceted benefits, we strongly believe the reservation of TVWS channels should apply to communities across the country. The cases for TVWS for rural broadband, agriculture, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and telehealth are clear. But TVWS are equally beneficial to manage internet traffic congestion and serve video-fixated and bandwidth-starved parts of America’s urban landscape too.