Internet Usage is Growing, But is it Going?
By Jovan Washington

Internet use keeps climbing, with video being the big driver in recent years. Google's YouTube, which started up in 2005, already accounts for about 10 percent of Internet traffic. What does that mean for internet service providers?

Internet service providers have been serving us an "all-you-can-eat" internet service for years. That has worked great, because they have had more bandwidth than they knew what to do with and we have enjoyed the simplicity of a flat price and our pick of each of the packages they provide us. However, every year, our demands grow, some of us really taking advantages of our unlimited freedom. However, just like most things, there comes a time when something depletes. But can the internet really run out?

If you have not noticed, many service providers are starting to limit internet usage; controlling the traffic. In addition to that, some providers are limiting downloads for individuals per month. Two of the culprits are Time Warner and Comcast who are placing bandwidth caps and limiting file sharing practices for their subscribers. Rob Malan states, "One greedy person on that network knocks the whole neighborhood offline." That makes since, but should someone suffer because of one person? If we look at similar situations, the answer is, unfortunately, yes.

Cable companies have started implementing new ideas for increasing capacity, but it is only a matter of time before us consumers take advantage of the increase. We get more freeway, we use more freeway, right? Cable companies can devote additional channels to data, or they can "split the node" to reduce the number of households on each cable. A new modem technology called Docsis 3.0 that is starting to roll out this year can increase download capacity on a cable to 160 mbps. However, this is costly and time consuming, costing billions to upgrade, and at least 3 years to do so.

Phone companies have great advantages because unlike cable companies, which share usage amongst its subscribers, phone companies operate digital subscriber lines that are not shared. Not to mention, phone companies can upgrade for little cost and time.

It is unfortunate that cable and phone companies have sold more bandwidth they can provide for everyone, but for us "greedy" consumers, it is one way we are currently able to afford internet. By oversubscribing, phone and cable companies are able to provide a network and affordable internet for us all. Internet is something that practically everyone uses, and we take advantage of the freedom that we have, but what will happen in the future. Internet usage is not decreasing; it is increasing at a phenomenal rate.

So, can the internet really run out? NO, but be prepared for some solutions to keep that from happening. Internet usage will keep increasing, service providers will keep growing to compensate, and we will always be connected.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jovan_Washington
http://EzineArticles.com/?Internet-Usage-is-Growing,-But-is-it-Going?&id=1009998