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Stephen Nold

Will Video break the internet?
June 22, 2008

During a casual research on technology topics, I stumbled across an interview in which the discussion included a reference to the Internet breaking from the demands of video. I have heard this hypothesis before, but it recently has taken on additional momentum with the expectation of growing consumer adoption of 3G devices. In other words, the Apple iPhone is going to have a significant impact on the pipes responsible for delivering adequate bandwidth.

So is it possible that the ever-increasing volume of video and the related bandwidth demand could 'break' the Internet?

The answer is Yes and No. Yes, with today's infrastructure, the growing demands of video would soon overwhelm the Internet as we define it today. This catastrophe will probably not happen, given the flexible nature of the Internet.

You see, the Internet is just not one computer, or one bank of computers, or even one network of computers, but rather a large, complex system of many computers and networks that are constantly adjusting to the demands of the digital information that must be delivered.

So the prediction of a pending Internet failure doesn't really take into account that the Internet is evolving just as the technology systems that depend on this backbone. Internet connectivity is more of a pending challenge rather than a certain disaster.

Now that we have mitigated this concern, let's go create some exciting video content from the floor of the tradeshow. Our industry still has a way to go in the design, delivery and utilization of video content. I look forward to seeing the new products that will harness this next generation of tools.

Posted by Stephen Nold on June 22, 2008 | Comments (2)

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June 24, 2008
In response to: Will Video break the internet?
Elliott Shake commented:

Hi Stephen, I think the reason so many people are concerned is not necessarily the proliferation of the new iPhone or similar devices, but rather the major media companies who are gradually switching their focus in formats. As the major television networks begin to realize that on-air advertising is a less and less viable business model for revenue generation (due to the advent of technologies like Tivo and DVR), they are beginning to focus on the internet as they continue the never-ending quest to gain access to (and credibility with) younger, more tech-savvy generations. The major networks are currently working on internet-only content which they intend to target at an audience too wide to be considered simply “niche”. And think of the millions of television viewers that do still exist. If someone flips a switch and they all start getting their media exclusively from the internet, the infrastructure to handle that type of traffic is simply not yet there. But the networks’ need to broaden their focus and widen their target online audience will drive that technology development. Where a tech obstacle and nearly unlimited funding exist in close quarters, a solution is never far away.

June 27, 2008
In response to: Will Video break the internet?
Stephen Nold commented:

Elliott - your assessment of why the bandwidth is needed makes sense and I can agree with the threat that commercialized content delivery poses. Yet we both end up on the same conclusion, the demand will bring with it the solution, both in architecture and funds. At the end of the day, video will not break the internet. Thanks for the well stated observation.