“As internet-based technologies and applications proliferate the marketplace, changing us socially, we continuously experience a greater demand for enabling these platforms to run faster and more efficiently," says Shane Chorley, executive head of carrier and connectivity at Vox Telecom.
“So, whilst we may not know what our lives are going to look like in ten years from now, we do know that we need to constantly prepare for it, so as to enable it and grow with it.”
To this end, Chorley envisages an explosive demand for fibre optic internet technologies in the consumer space. “Demand for connectivity is growing. Connectivity allows us to work differently, interact differently. The more connectivity we consume, the faster we require it to work.”
Fibre optic internet, like ADSL, is the means the internet relies on to carry and support traffic. “The more we engage with Over-the-Top (OTT) service offerings like WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, Netflix, YouTube etc., the more we rely on connectivity that will allow us to stay connected in real time, that is, without delay,” explains Chorley.
Fibre optic internet, unlike ADSL, allows for instant, uninterrupted and fast connectivity that is redefining how internet connectivity is being experienced.
“Whilst there is nothing wrong with ADSL, fibre optic internet and LTE has made a massive difference in the business world because they are much faster and businesses have felt that they experience less downtime which means better efficiency and more profitability,” says Chorley. “Cost has been a major barrier to entry for most people but we predict that as the demand for faster connectivity rises, these costs will be driven down enabling further growth in this market,” he says.
And the demand for fibre based technology is on the rise, trends in society predict that people want to be connected to the world around them from both a professional and personal experience. “People want to be able to strike a balance between their workstyle and lifestyle. People want to be able to consume a movie in real time or chat without being delayed by an interruption in connectivity or a slow transmission line.”
It just takes reflecting over the past decade, to realise the reality of a life we a living now, one we would never have imagined back then to understand how far we have come and also to realise how vast the possibilities of where we are headed are.
Some examples of how this access, speed and connectivity has impacted our lives includes how, with access to the internet, more people are being banked, allowing for the rise of Africa’s middle class. More people are able to shop online contributing to growth in the retail sector. News is more easily accessed allowing us to become involved with the world in real time, not just our home town. Fundamentally, connectivity allows us to do many things differently, that didn’t seem possible a decade ago.
Chorley’s advice for the next decade: “There is little point resisting the evolution of internet based technologies and the rapid evolution of our society, because as technology evolves, societies evolve and people evolve. Not accepting this evolution means falling behind and rendering yourself vulnerable to being viewed as inefficient and unable to cope. We are living a reality we would never have imagined. Growth at an exponential rate of internet users has demanded it become faster, more affordable and more available."
