LONDON, May 3 (UPI) — The British government might have to impose restrictions on Internet use at some point in the future, scientists warn, because the current infrastructure cannot support consumers’ demand for online video.
At the current usage rate, experts say, Britain will run out of power in 2035 if something isn’t done to solve the surging demand. The country’s power supply and communications network simply isn’t sufficient, they say.
Internet use already accounts for eight percent of Britain’s total power output, the {link:Telegraph reported: “https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11580307/Internet-rationing-needed-as-UK-cannot-keep-up-with-demand.html”,nw} Sunday. And demand doubles every two, one expert said.
What might be even more alarming, officials say, is that the optic cables and other web equipment are expected to reach their capacity in just eight years. And the fuller the capacity, the more power is used and the {link:slower the web speeds: “https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/britain-may-be-forced-to-ration-the-internet-expert-warns-as-web-use-could-consume-100-of-nations-power-supply-by-2035-10222638.html”,nw} are.
“The Internet is already consuming … [the] equivalent to the output of three nuclear power stations, and demand is soaring,” Andrew Ellis, professor of optical communications at Aston University, {link:told the Sunday Times: “http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/People/article1551929.ece”,nw}. “It is growing so fast, currently at an exponential rate, that, in theory, it could be using all the UK power generation by 2035.”
The Royal Society, which advises the British government on scientific matters, plans to {link:meet with scientists: “https://royalsociety.org/events/2015/05/communication-networks/”,nw} this week to hear about the impending crisis.
Installing more Internet-capable cables might be a temporary fix, but experts say it won’t solve the problem because that would likely increase web costs for consumers, drain even more power — and max out its capacity soon, too.
“New cables laid now could fill in a year or two of being installed, which is far too short,” said Ellis, who is one of many experts {link:scheduled to discuss: “https://royalsociety.org/events/2015/05/communication-networks/”,nw} the upcoming challenges with the Royal Society.
One effective alternative to addressing the problem would be to ration web access — billing consumers for data they use.
“We cannot make all that extra power, so we will have to restrict or reduce access, perhaps by metering consumers so they pay for what they use,” Ellis added.
“If we don’t fix this then in 10 years time the Internet could have to cost more.”
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