Ravi Karthik, Chief Marketing Officer, ACT Fibernet
When the internet emerged 30 years ago, nobody could have anticipated its evolution from a platform for sharing data among institutions to the immersive and interconnected digital world we experience today. The prevalence of connectivity and communication has become so widespread that numerous broadband developments are often overlooked. It is important to recognise the fact that all our wireless activities on mobile devices ultimately depend on the wireline network. A robust wireline network enhances the wireless experience, with broadband serving as its core. While we have made significant progress, the trajectory of broadband promises to usher in transformative changes.
Fixed broadband has been the cornerstone of the telecom industry for decades, providing dependable and high-speed internet connectivity to both households and businesses. Fixed line broadband will retain significance for applications requiring low latency and high bandwidth, including online gaming, home entertainment, smart home devices, online education, remote work, videoconferencing and virtual reality. These applications demand a stable and reliable connection, an advantage of fixed line broadband over wireless networks. Moreover, fixed line broadband does much more than just support applications. As per World Bank estimates, a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can lead to a 1.2 per cent rise in real per capita GDP growth in developed economies and 1.38 per cent in developing ones.
As fixed broadband continues to grow, here are a few trends that would shape the future of evolution of the same…
Bridging the digital gap
We have seen how the lockdowns imposed due to Covid 19 pushed work, education, and healthcare into remote settings, underscoring the significant advantage of fixed broadband access. The pandemic created urgency among the government and private investors to synchronise their efforts in tackling and eliminating the digital divide, and broadband has played an active role in this. Data gathered by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India suggests that fixed broadband subscribers increased at a compound annual growth rate of 11 per cent between March 2018 and March 2022, going up from 17.95 million to 27.75 million. The significant increase in fixed line broadband connections indicates that in the future, with hybrid and remote work formats alongside online education, we will witness wide-scale adoption of broadband, not only in cities but also in remote areas. Broadband is set to play an essential role in bridging the digital divide, especially with the large-scale digitisation of enterprises across the segment.
Enhanced education and experiences
Apart from facilitating distance learning and online education, broadband has the potential to enhance digital experiences. As both downstream and upstream broadband capabilities advance, the act of visiting a website will evolve from static page viewing to more dynamic experiences, especially with the emergence of technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality. In the near future, this might translate into a video-based experience that allows users to perceive things independently as they navigate through digital space, creating a sensation of genuine presence. The internet has already significantly enriched our educational experiences and learning abilities, and with faster broadband speeds, it has the potential to propel us even further.
Conclusion
Nonetheless, the future of fixed line broadband will not be devoid of challenges. With the increasing prevalence and enhancement of 5G networks, fixed line broadband providers may face heightened expectations for faster speeds and more reliable connectivity. Additionally, emerging technologies such as satellite broadband and 6G wireless networks could introduce increased competition in the future. The trajectory of fixed line broadband in the age of 5G and wireless connectivity is intricate and varied. Despite encountering challenges from new technologies, fixed line broadband remains a crucial element of the telecom industry, continuing to play a pivotal role in delivering dependable and high-speed internet connectivity to homes and businesses; and is more reliable and superior.
