Broadband Infrastructure Ready For Smart TV?

written by: Gianluigi Cuccureddu

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Published on Saturday, 01 January 2011 14:48

DisplaySearch estimates that 21-percent of TV shipments worldwide in 2010 were of internet-connected models, with numbers expected to climb to over 122 million in 2014. Analysts warn that smart TV could overwhelm broadband infrastructure as the popularity of internet-connected HDTVs and other home entertainment equipment grows to the 2014 estimates or beyond.

DisplaySearch director Paul Gray says:

“The looming risk now is what happens if every connected TV gets used.

“With Netflix accounting for 20-percent of peak internet traffic in the US, it’s reasonable to ask if the infrastructure can cope. Set makers need to understand that broadband access does not scale endlessly like broadcast reception.” 

SlashGear further elaborates:

The issue is only likely to become more pressing, as companies switch to streaming technologies – as with Netflix – versus one-time downloads. The revised Apple TV, for instances shifted Apple’s focus solely to streaming content whereas the first-gen model downloaded video instead; purchased and rented content is stored in the cloud and streamed on-demand.