The Future of Internet Technology

The year is 2069. We wake up from our cryosleep and a hologram of our virtual assistant pops up to greet us, suggest healthy breakfast options, summarize our daily schedule, and fire up the teleporter to the other side of the world.

Sounds crazy, right? Well, this can be you in the next 5 decades.

In a few short years, the world as we know will completely change - ushering in a new digital revolution changing the way we live, work, learn, and play.

All on the back of a super-fast highway train we call broadband networks.

So, join us as we explore the fascinating tech in development while anticipating and nudging forward to the future of Internet technology.

A Glimpse into the Future

1. National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
2. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The Internet turns 55 this year and from the looks of it, we have seen everything from increased connectivity and greater capacity to low latency and gigabyte speeds.

5G and fiber internet have already cemented the initial codecs of future technologies like Web3, metaverse, IoT, Advanced AI, AR/VR, and much more.

Little by little we are transitioning from an era defined by megabyte and gigabyte speeds to a world of terahertz and terabyte-powered possibilities and deeply immersive experiences.

Top Internet Technology Trends

Thankfully, with industry trends and expert insights, predicting the future of these emerging internet technologies is surprisingly straightforward. All it takes is a dash of imagination!

Web3

The term Web3 or Web 3.0 refers to a decentralized internet infrastructure of tomorrow, where users have complete ownership and control over their data and digital assets.

Let's unpack this idea with an easy analogy:

The Metaverse/Extended Reality

According to KPMG estimates, by 2030 we would be spending more time in the metaverse than in the real-world setting.

In simple words, the metaverse is another future vision of the internet, where experts predict humans will be able to share real-life experiences in a 3D virtual space.

Picture it as the new public town square like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, YouTube, and LinkedIn all combined but on a much larger scale where you could interactively apply for jobs, work, shop, connect, hang out, and even get married virtually.

Of course, it’s still early days and there are a lot of things to improve like privacy and safety but the possibilities are endless. From watching a concert at home to designing new structures in a matter of seconds, technology will create a new world where anything is possible.

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) & Machine Learning

In plain terms, Artificial Neural Networks are algorithms that mimic how the brain processes data, whereas machine learning is data patterns that help ANNs figure things out to perform a certain task.

We are already quite familiar with the combined transformative powers of this deadly duo with generative AI or ChatGPT shaping major business industries and The Internet of Things (IoT) powered devices improving our lifestyles on the go. But what if we tell you this application of artificial neural networks and machine learning barely scratches the surface? But first, let's take a romantic detour to unpack both concepts together:

In the future, the advanced iterations of these technology frameworks will be a complete game changer. As it matures and evolves, this new ecosystem will help solve multiple challenges that plague the world today. Let’s take a romantic adventure to better understand the ecosystem.  

For now, challenges remain in terms of regulation and reliability. For now, we should relax, reap the benefits, and hope that science fiction does not become a reality. For safer bets, make sure you are using the best internet providers in your area.

Quantum Computing

Fast-forward into the future, a huge asteroid heading for Earth and you need to make all the big decisions and calculations within seconds to divert it. Here, a classical computer would take 10’000 years to solve a challenge of this complexity and magnitude.

So, what do you do? Let the Earth perish out of existence. Of course, not.

You simply find a quantum computer and let it do the heavy lifting for you. Think of it like billions of tiny detectives simultaneously working together to solve a problem.

For instance, if your job is to locate one specific grain of sand on a gigantic beach. A regular computer would go through each grain one by one taking forever to find what you need, whereas a quantum computer would instantaneously deploy billions of tiny detectives that will sift through the grains all at once. Making the goal more realistic and attainable.

This is just a simplified example of what a quantum computer can do. Future applications would revolutionize the fields of medicine, material science, aerospace, AI, finance, cybersecurity, and almost every field of human existence. Leading to breakthroughs beyond our imagination.

However, we are still in the early days, where building these quantum computers is quite complex and challenging. But with continued research and development, the future of quantum computing looks bright and has the potential to change the world in amazing ways.

Where Do We Stand Now?

As we already mentioned none of this would be able to work without a future-proof internet infrastructure to support it. For all of these technologies and their applications to take root in our daily lives broadband networks would have to evolve quickly.

Here is a glimpse of where we stand now:

Fiber: Most fiber-powered providers offer speeds up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) with some ISPs, like Xfinity, clocking 10,000 Mbps in a few areas. But wider coverage is still a big concern when it comes to fiber internet.

5G: 5G speeds go as high as 1.1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) but so far only mid-tier speeds are accessible in the US. But with 6G on the horizon, gigabyte speeds might become the new normal in a few coming years. For nationwide high-band coverage, check out Spectrum for excellent reliability.

Satellite Internet: Right now, Satellite Internet reliability is a big concern with frequent outages in extreme weather conditions. While most providers claim speeds ranging from 100-220 Mbps, the actual speeds are much lower than that.

Leapfrogging to the Future

With 5G, Fiber, and Satellite Internet now a given, we can interestingly ask ourselves how the future of telecommunications networks will evolve and impact the future.

All things considered, internet speeds, mobility, and connectivity will continue to evolve. Continuously transforming future technologies and their application while making them all the more accessible.

Sub-Terahertz and Terahertz Networks (6G)

The surge of wireless data traffic demand is expected to bring the 6G launch in the US earlier than expected.

Where it will not only complement the existing 5G network and technologies of the future but also enable advanced technologies like high-definition holography, ultra-high-capacity wireless backhaul connections, and even the Internet of Nano-Things.

Its contributions to a more human-friendly, sustainable, and efficient society are undisputable but whether its deployment challenges and technical limitations can be overcome remains to be seen in the future.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Internet

There’s a space race happening right now where companies such as Starlink, Amazon, and OneWeb rushing toward the unclaimed planetary territory.

Next-generation satellite Internet or LEO-based Internet is not only cost-effective but provides high-speed connectivity over existing satellite infrastructure. Making it a lucrative proposition for the modern internet consumer. More importantly, it will play a crucial role in unlocking the boundless potential of IoT-powered automated agriculture, healthcare, and transportation sectors.

Yet despite these impressive advances, satellite Internet is still not within everyone’s reach. But with the ongoing developments, one thing is certain: It has the potential to connect billions across the globe deprived of reliable internet connection.

10G Vision

The 10G vision will open a new chapter in human history where a wide array of new technologies will harmoniously work together to transform the human experience in the digital age.

Creating state-of-the-art technological ecosystems to empower complex industrial sectors, next-gen tech, and new online spaces like the Metaverse. Even turning our living rooms into interactive worlds unbound by physical boundaries and limitations.

And while some companies are claiming 10G speeds by branding it as a 10-gigabyte network. The future 10G networks will more likely operate on terahertz frequencies and terabyte speeds.

The Next Frontier: A World of Possibilities Await

While the future is hard to predict, one thing is certain: gigabit speeds are already here and the foundation for the next-generation broadband networks will be built on decades of investment and hard work to power advanced technologies of the future.

It is safe to say the next digital revolution will reimagine and completely transform existing technology ecosystems, making them more immersive, agile, and transformative.

Sources

1. Federal Communications Commission. Seventeenth Section 706 Report. Accessed Mar 14^th, 2024.
2. The Future of the Metaverse and Extended Reality. Accessed Mar 14^th, 2024.
3. Brian Dietz, Broadband Library. Four Ways that 10G will Revolutionize Our Lives. Accessed Mar 18^th, 2024.
4. Arjun Kharpal, Forbes. Next-Gen Mobile Internet — 6G — will Launch in 2030, Telecom Bosses Say, even as 5G Adoption Remains Low. Accessed Mar 18^th, 2024.