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FALL 2015
INTERNET PREDICTIONS
FOR 2016
The Cisco® Visual Networking
Index (VNI) Forecast (2011-2016)
is an ongoing initiative to forecast
and analyze Internet Protocol (IP)
networking growth and trends
worldwide. It reports significant
growth in internet traffic and
service penetration, driven by
factors including:
• An increasing number of
devices:
By 2016, the forecast
projects there will be nearly
18.9 billion connected devices
—almost 2.5 connections for
each person on earth—com-
pared with 10.3 billion in 2011.
• More internet users:
By 2016,
there are expected to be 3.4
billion internet users, which
represents about 45 percent
of the world’s projected
population according to
United Nations’ estimates.
• Faster broadband speeds:
The average fixed broadband
speed is expected to increase
to 34 Meg in 2016, up from
9 Meg in 2011.
• More Wi-Fi:
By 2016, over half
of the world’s internet traffic is
expected to come fromWi-Fi
connections.
It’s an exciting time of growth and
RTC is working diligently to meet
our customers’ internet needs.
Learn how faster speeds can
lead to higher productivity
to help your business grow
I
nadequate internet speeds can slow
down workflow and prevent you
from keeping pace with customer
demands. Yet, misconceptions about
internet speeds are common among
small business owners and managers.
Here’s your reality check:
Misconception:
The internet connec-
tion our business signed up for several
years ago is fine.
Reality:
As technology evolves, your
internet connection needs to change as
well. So much business activity is now
done online, and data-intensive applica-
tions require faster data speeds.
Misconception:
Slow internet doesn’t
affect my productivity.
Reality:
It could be taking you and your
employees several additional minutes to
access key information from a vendor’s
catalog or upload a large file. Think how
many times your connection is used each
day—all those extra minutes can really
add up.
Misconception:
If I have faster internet
speeds, my employees will just spend more
time “surfing.”
Reality:
Many studies have shown
efficiencies in the workplace are far more
likely when the right tools are used. If your
internet connection is slow, employees are
more likely to cut corners in their work
than to surf online. Things like settling for
less than complete research on competitors
or checking email less frequently can cost
your business money.
Misconception:
My customers aren’t
affected by my slow internet speed.
Reality:
Even if your customers never
come in direct contact with your internet
connection, it can have an impact on their
experience with you. For example, if they
have to wait for you to pull up informa-
tion, they can get the impression that your
business is inefficient or unprofessional.
RTC knows that in today’s
competitive markets, business
productivity is a must! That’s
why we offer the fastest speeds
in the area. To learn about RTC’s
Gigabit Internet, visit rtc.coop/gig.
Common
Misconceptions
about Internet
Speeds