15 billion connected devices by 2015 - Cisco

Cisco predicts that the number of network-connected devices will be more than 15 billion - twice the world’s population, by 2015.

In the fifth annual Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) forecast released recently, the company also said the total amount of global Internet traffic will quadruple by 2015 and reach 966 exabytes per year.

The projected increase of Internet traffic between 2014 and 2015 alone is 200 exabytes - which is greater than the total amount of Internet Protocol traffic generated globally in 2010.

“The explosive growth in Internet data traffic, especially video, creates an opportunity in the years ahead for optimising and monetising visual, virtual and mobile Internet experiences. As architect of the next-generation Internet, Cisco stands ready to help our customers not only accommodate this rapid expansion of Internet activity through the evolution of their networks but also help them thrive as a result of it,” said Reshaad Sha, strategy director at Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group.

The company says global IP traffic growth will be influenced by an increased number of devices and Internet users as well as faster broadband speeds and more video.

The fastest-growing IP-traffic region for the next four years is expected to be the Middle East and Africa - which had a 52% compound annual growth rate, for an eightfold growth.

According to the study, the proliferation of tablets, mobile phones, connected appliances and other smart machines is driving up the demand for connectivity. “

By 2015, there will be nearly 15 billion network connections via devices - including machine-to-machine - and more than two connections for each person on earth,” the forecast reveals.

According to Cisco, there will be nearly 3 billion Internet users - more than 40% of the world’s projected population in 2015.

The study also notes that the average fixed broadband speed is expected to increase four-fold, from 7 megabits per second in 2010 to 28 Mbps in 2015. The average broadband speed has already doubled within the past year from 3.5 Mbps to 7 Mbps.

It is also expected that by 2015, 1 million video minutes will traverse the Internet every second.