Fixed Broadband

General
The increase in bandwidth in access, backhaul and core networks is nicely demonstrated by the total traffic handled by AMS-IX.

This solid growth in data traffic is, in the Netherlands, not so much explainable on the basis of the increase in the uptake of broadband, but is rather due to the increased consumption per connection/user. Furthermore, the rollout of Mobile Broadband is also responsible for this increase in data traffic in fixed networks. In addition to the increase in bandwidth, there is also a growing need for Quality of Service (QoS) due to the emergence of VoIP and IPTV.

Business
Fixed networks provide reliable and broadband-type connections for the business market, to mobile installation sites and to other wholesale buyers. In the business market there are developments in the area of Ethernet VPN, added services over VPN (Voice, PIN, Alarm) and Hosted Voice.

Consumers
Consumers are therefore asking for additional bandwidth and real-time services. As a result of this, the rollout of fiber has accelerated and with the emergence of technologies such as Docsis 3.0 and VDSL, the possibilities of existing infrastructures such as COAX and Copper are further exploited.

Over-the-Top Providers
The major danger for telecom operators and service providers is the emergence of ‘over-the-top’ providers, such as Google, Skype and Facebook.
These providers cannibalize the services of service providers and threaten to reduce operators to bit pipe providers to their customers who consequently have ready access via the public internet to all kinds of applications of providers who tap other revenues.