It's happening-the perfect data storm is taking shape right at this very moment. A digital deluge is coming? How will we batten down the hatches and open up the pipes. More people than ever before are using visually heavy social media such as photos and videos on their mobile networks. This data usage is merging into a tempest that threatens to capsize our current mobile networks. What does this mean for you? It could very well mean network slow downs and higher subscription costs. In the future, it's likely that our networks will need 1000x more bandwidth.
So, what makes up this hurricane of rich content? It includes e-books, soundtracks, and movies. It's estimated that between 2012 and 2017, mobile video data will increase 16-fold, accounting for two-thirds of the world's mobile data traffic. How can we weather this upcoming data storm? The solution will likely involve a combination of strategies. More cells would bring the network closer to you by making the network denser, more efficient, and able to handle more traffic. We may also need more spectrum and innovative ways to utilize our limited resources. One possible course is a 20 percent household penetration of small cells and the addition of 10 times more spectrum, translating to 1000x network capacity.
To learn more about tech's answer to big problems, check out the infographic below presented by spark.qualcomm.com.