Data Usage Up for Homes with Wi-Fi
As America's internet service providers reach more people than ever before—over 90 percent of households in the U.S.—in turn, Americans are consuming more content than ever before. According to comScore's latest report on the "State of OTT," the average consumption in a U.S. Wi-Fi household spiked by 26 percent in one year alone. Streaming video is up, and speeds are only getting faster as new technologies and experiences like VR, AR and 4K become mainstream and usher us into a whole new era of connectivity. Wi-Fi has ingrained itself in everyday life, carrying the vast majority of U.S
How Wi-Fi Has Changed America
World Wi-Fi Day is here, and it's a time to celebrate and reflect on the game-changing technology that has enhanced the lives of Americans in just about every way. We all rely on a strong Wi-Fi connection for business, entertainment, and personal needs, so much so that an overwhelming majority of U.S. broadband households–9 out of 10–used Wi-Fi to connect to the internet as of March 2018. Since its humble debut in 1985, Wi-Fi has become a staple in American life. As the technology landscape evolved and the number of connected devices in homes and businesses multiplied, Wi-Fi networks
Three Questions: What's New in the Wi-Fi Space
NCTA introduces its newest series, three questions with an expert. Check back periodically for interviews on different topics with various professionals within the cable industry. Topic: What's New in the Wi-Fi Space Expert: Danielle Piñeres, NCTA Associate General Counsel NCTA's Danielle Piñeres, whose work is grounded in spectrum policy, gives a top-level view of the state of Wi-Fi technology, how far it's come, where it might be headed and what it means for internet users. What is different about Wi-Fi networks today versus 10 years ago? The way that people use the Internet has changed and
We Can All Agree on the Need for a Balanced Spectrum Policy
In an era of sharply divided views, it’s refreshing to see policymakers of all political stripes line up behind the idea that responding to this country’s mobile broadband needs requires the right balance of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. At a recent Senate Commerce Hearing on FCC nominations, many participants recognized the need for additional spectrum to support growing demand for mobile broadband. Several specifically pointed out the need for a balance of licensed and unlicensed spectrum to ensure that diverse services and business models in the wireless space all continue to thrive
By 2021, Connected Devices Will Outnumber Humans Three to One
There’s a good chance last Christmas that you or someone close to you received a virtual assistant like an Amazon Echo or Google Home. These virtual assistants were the most popular gift ordered on Amazon.com at the end of 2016. Powered by a continuous connection to the internet, these gadgets interact with the other internet-connected devices in your home – things like your smart thermostat or Wi-Fi lightbulbs – and turn the Internet of Things from a disparate collection of connected objects into a unified smart home. According to a new report by Cisco, the number of internet-connected
Happy World Wi-Fi Day!
Today is World Wi-Fi Day – an opportunity both to celebrate Wi-Fi’s extraordinary success and to ask ‘where does Wi-Fi go from here?’ Since its humble beginnings in the “junk bands” in 1985, Wi-Fi has become an integral part of everyday life, keeping people connected at home, at school, and at the office. For many, Wi-Fi is synonymous with Internet access. That’s no wonder when you consider that Wi-Fi carries the vast majority of U.S. wireless traffic. Cable’s public Wi-Fi networks alone support 2.5 billion active sessions and carry 169 petabytes of data per month. The unlicensed spectrum
Next Steps For The 3.5 GHZ "Innovation Band"
As demand for mobile broadband spectrum continues to increase and existing resources become more and more congested, the FCC and industry have looked for new ways to share and improve the efficiency of spectrum. The 3.5 GHz band is poised to become a prime example of innovative, efficient spectrum use, where three types of users—government and satellite incumbents, mobile licensees, and Wi-Fi-like devices—coordinate their operations using a sophisticated spectrum access system (SAS) database. After receiving the FCC’s green light last year, the cable industry and many others have already begun
TV, Live Streaming Score Big During March Madness
Wi-Fi Report Predicts Spectrum Shortfall in Under 10 Years
A new report for Wi-Fi Alliance issued by Quotient Associates predicts that by the year 2025, the United States will require significantly more unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum in order to support expected peak Wi-Fi usage. The report also indicates that this coming Wi-Fi crunch could be even more substantial if new, novel internet applications enter the marketplace that we currently can’t account for. The report’s forecasts include details on how significant the spectrum shortcoming will be, pointing to a need for between 500 MHz and 1 GHz of new unlicensed spectrum by 2025. The Wi-Fi Alliance
What Cisco’s VNI Says About Connectivity in the Year 2021
The latest data from the 11th annual Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast (2016 to 2021) came out this month, and it’s safe to say that the projections all point to a surge in the Internet of Things, connectivity enhancements and internet speed improvements. As people around the world continue to rely on their smartphones, tablets and multiple connected devices inside and outside the home, we are surely in for the next level of connectivity in the years to come as internet service providers and technology innovators stay ahead of consumer demands. With the