One of the hot debates this decade is about bandwidth. Owners of existing access networks (copper -> xDSL, cable -> DOCSIS Internet) usually offer the standard self-fulfilling reasoning: if there would be demand, we would build it, but we do not see any use beyond what is offered now. Proponents of Next generation Networks based on fiber say that the demand is there, you just need to build out the networks.
One thing is clear: the amount of data that is generated by normal and cheap digital cameras is increasing exponetially. Most people set their camera to the highest resolution, shoot away at a party, and….send you a CD or DVD with all the pictures, let alone video. Storage is cheap, 500 Gbyte will set you back 100 Euros, but bandwidth….
Curently it is absolutely unthinkable to send a series of home made photos and videos through the Internet. It would take more than 4-5 hours to send all the pictures that you can store on a 10 Euro memory card, unless you are the lucky one with a symmetrical fiber-based access line.
So what is adequate bandwidth, if you are not able to share photos and video’s with your loved ones without investing time and effort in serious compression and tedious upload?
The gap is increasing fast. See for instance this HD video (hat tip Dirk), made with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II…a camera designed for taking still pictures, but capable of shooting HD-video as well.
Think about the amount of data this baby generates….
