The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to remain the fastest-growing IP (Internet Protocol) traffic region from 2013 – 2018 with five-fold growth and a 38-percent CAGR, according to the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index Global Forecast and Service Adoption for 2013 to 2018.This rise in IP traffic is driven essentially by the growth in internet penetration, proliferation of devices, faster broadband speeds and more video viewing. In view of this, Cisco, United States (US) based Technology Company, has advised mobile operators in Nigeria, and the region to adapt to the increasing number of devices, such as tablets, smartphones and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) connections, that will need to be authenticated to gain access to fixed/mobile networks with enhanced security and intelligence required.
With the World Cup 2014 now well underway, tens of millions of people are viewing games via the Internet. Video streaming and IP broadcast of the World Cup is anticipated to generate 4.3 exabytes of Internet traffic, which is three times the amount of monthly traffic generated by (this year’s World Cup host city). In addition, Internet traffic generated by the 60,000 people in a stadium and traveling to games is forecast to surpass the average busy-hour traffic from all 94m smartphones in Brazil.
To place the World Cup in context, global IP traffic is expected to reach 132 exabytes per month by 2018, which is the equivalent to: 8.8bn screens streaming the FIFA World Cup final game in Ultra-HD/4K at the same time; 5.5bn people binge-watching ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 4 via video-on-demand in HD or 1.5bn watching in Ultra-HD/4K;The season 3 premier of ‘House of Cards’ streaming in Ultra-HD/4K on 24 billion screens at the same time; 940 quadrillion text messages; and 4.5trn YouTube clips. Still on the MEA region, Cisco’s VNI predicts that internet traffic will grow 5.5-fold from 2013 to 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 41 percent, adding that IP video traffic will grow 7-fold from 2013 to 2018, and a compound annual growth rate of 48 percent. The report also estimates that Internet video traffic will grow 8-fold from 2013 to 2018, a CAGR of 50 percent. There will be three million Internet households (5.1 percent of all Internet households) generating more than 100 gigabytes per month in 2018, up from 438,224 in 2013. Mobile data traffic will grow 14-fold from 2013 to 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 70 percent. A major highlight of the report is that High Definition (HD) will be 19.6 percent of IP Video traffic in 2018, up from 6.9 percent in 2013 (82.3 percent CAGR).
The evolution of advanced video services, such as HD (High Definition) /ultra HD video, may create new bandwidth and scalability requirements for service providers, according to the report. Speaking with technology journalist in Lagos, weekend, Dare Ogunlade, general manager for Nigeria and English Speaking West Africa, Cisco, “The reality of the Internet of Everything (IoE), the increasing demand for network mobility, and the emergence of 4K video are among the key trends highlighted in this year’s Cisco VNI forecast that represent significant opportunities for Telcos in the Africa today and in the immediate future. “Major sporting events like the World Cup have highlighted the enormous consumer and business appetite for a better viewing experience over the Internet using either mobile or fixed devices and service providers are seeking new technology solutions that will deliver this enhanced experience.”
