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The IoT future will be powered by fibre

According to Gartner, 6.4 billion connected things will be in use in 2016, up 30% from 2015. From the IoT connected fridge, Fujitsu’s recently announced connected cow and IoT applications that are changing the healthcare industry; IoT has never been a more exciting, dynamic and creative sector, writes Duncan Gooding, the director of enterprise at TalkTalk Business.

However, as a result of the development and adoption of this technology, there is increasing pressure on an already saturated broadband network that is already having to cope with the rise of data intensive media such as video and greater demands for bandwidth and capacity than ever before. The issue was further highlighted at this year’s CES, when a panel of fibre broadband experts stated that, “the Internet of Things will not only benefit from fibre-optic broadband, it will require it.”

While the panel makes a strong argument, we must bear in mind that it is no longer about just any connection, but the right connection, and the network quality, reliability and flexibility that this technology requires. From Ethernet to ADSL, there are viable alternatives which can provide the speed and capacity that organisations need. However, ultimately, the decision comes down to the nature of the business and the challenges the project is trying to overcome.

Bandwidth at the heart
For nearly any business today there is no denying that being connected to the internet is vital. In the same way that access to electricity, gas or water is essential for a business to function, a reliable broadband connection is fast becoming a utility that businesses are unable to operate without. Furthermore, should broadband fail for even a few hours, the cost to a business can quickly spiral out of control. With the increasing number of interconnected devices, more has to be done to ensure consistent connectivity and that they have the capacity they need.

For most businesses, it is a case of bandwidth. As their demand for data fluctuates, businesses have come to expect connectivity that can adapt quickly, seamlessly and cheaply to meet their changing needs. This is where fibre’s benefits can be demonstrated in relation to its competition. From Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) to Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) solutions, fibre has the flexibility and versatility to meet these data demands and support an increasingly saturated network, providing greater capacity and bandwidth at an affordable price point, and as a consequence allow IoT to thrive. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses of different sizes, with small home based retail units given the opportunity to see as many gains as a large warehouse system.

Greater expectations
By 2020, it is predicted that more than half of all new business processes and data will use some form of IoT (Gartner, 2016). This rise in connected devices is coupled with growing expectations from organisations for their broadband connection to be up to the standards their business requires. With this in mind, the importance of broadband, and the rising need for fibre optic in particular, is high on businesses’ list of priorities. By embracing the scalability and flexibility of fibre, and investing in their network, businesses can build the infrastructure to support and benefit from IoT.

Ultimately, the advantages that IoT can bring to businesses are vast. However, for these benefits to be fully realised, a secure and reliable network has to be in place to enable companies to flourish. Therefore, by acknowledging, embracing and acting on IoT as a business enabler, companies can futureproof the current systems and put in place the fibre network that will provide the foundation to take advantage of the real possibilities of the Internet of Things.