Initial research for this project suggests profound changes in traffic impacted by the Internet will occur over the next 2-3 years. These changes will add further pressure to traditional pricing methodologies, already deconstructing due to the decline of distance as a measurement of cost, and migration to flat rate models. The control of traffic will become a key determinant to success. This study analyses the speed and direction of change and forecast how the application of Internet technologies will impact the fabric of global communications. The key focus of this analysis is the demands that the technology will make on carrier infrastructures and will provide you with a comprehensive grounding on which to base your future strategy.
Objectives Assess current Internet backbone ownership, routes and control.
Forecast the growth in Internet traffic, bandwidth demand, and traffic nexus growth. Draw conclusions on the issues of convergence, commoditisation and co-opetition. The study was concluded in November 1999 and presented in London on December 17th 1999.