Used Worldwide Bandwidth Reaches New Heights

Worldwide bandwidth demand continues to develop at a gradual tempo.

Annual demand development has decelerated slowly, however in line with new information from TeleGeography’s Transport Networks Analysis Service, combination demand greater than tripled between 2019 and 2023 to succeed in an eye-popping 5 Pbps.

Worldwide Worldwide Bandwidth Development

Supply: © 2024 TeleGeography

Now check out the bar chart beneath.

Used Worldwide Bandwidth Development by Area

Supply: © 2024 TeleGeography

On a regional stage, most components of the world have seen very comparable development at about 35-40% CAGR since 2019.

The markets that stand out are Africa, the place capability development remains to be surging at a virtually 50% CAGR, and the U.S. & Canada, the place market maturity has slowed demand to round 30% CAGR.

The Position of Content material Suppliers

Content material and cloud suppliers—most particularly a handful of firms like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon—are firmly entrenched as the largest customers of community capability globally.

As not too long ago as 2016, web spine suppliers accounted for almost all of demand. Not anymore. As of 2023, content material and cloud networks accounted for greater than 70% of all bandwidth utilization.

As of 2023, content material and cloud networks accounted for greater than 70% of all bandwidth utilization.

Should you take a look at the 100% bar chart beneath, you’ll see that this demand scale isn’t the identical on each route that we monitor at TeleGeography.

Share of Used Bandwidth by Class for Main Routes

Notes: Information exhibits used bandwidth as of year-end 2023. Supply: © 2024 TeleGeography

On a few of the largest subsea routes just like the trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, and intra-Asia, content material suppliers account for the overwhelming majority of demand (80% or extra). Different routes stay extra carrier-driven, such because the U.S.-Latin America routes, and routes connecting Europe to Africa, Asia, and the Center East.

Why the distinction?

Content material suppliers are targeted on connecting information facilities throughout totally different zones. As a result of focus of service supply in main Asian, European, and U.S. markets, core routes connecting these areas are of highest precedence to the content material suppliers.

That stated, content material supplier demand is quickly rising in all places and outpaces demand development even on routes the place carriers proceed to drive total capability utilization.

Content material Suppliers versus Others Bandwidth Development by Area

Supply: © 2024 TeleGeography

As could be anticipated, content material supplier demand development is quickest in areas the place carriers are nonetheless dominant, like Africa, Latin America, and the Center East. However there isn’t any a part of the globe the place content material demand development is not outpacing that of web spine suppliers.

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