Predictions for the Future of Broadband Networks

Predictions for the Future of Broadband Networks

By Mohamed Al-Ghazali, Director Wireline Sales, MEA, CommScope.

The most important trends driving broadband networks in the coming year are a natural extension of the progress and challenges we’ve seen in 2021. In particular, the global response to COVID-19, building momentum in network investments, and continued innovation in broadband technology are all contributing to the next phase of evolution in broadband. We’ve defined six areas that will steer this evolution in 2022: continued bandwidth growth, extended access to broadband, fiber deployment expansions, augmentations in DOCSIS and DAA, increased intelligence in cloud-native network management software, and the changing design of modern broadband technology.

The Middle East is on the path of rapid expansion in the coming years when it comes to digitalisation and cloud computing. Government initiatives such as UAE vision 2030, New Kuwait’s 2035 nationwide digital roadmap, Bahrain’s Cloud First and Saudi’s $18bn plan to develop 18 data centres will be instrumental in the deployment of bradband and fibre technology.

Bandwidth Growth

In the past year, we’ve observed a ~20% growth rate in both upstream and downstream residential average bandwidth usage during the busy-hour window, with corresponding spikes and dips occurring as nations and cities locked down and returned to the “new normal”