10G: The Future of Broadband Technology

10G: The Future of Broadband Technology

Over the past ten years, the world has been on a journey of unparalleled connectivity. As a result, most Americans today have access to super-fast internet networks that have revolutionized how we live, work, learn, and play. However, as a global internet leader, the United States must stay ahead of demand. To that end, technologies are already being deployed, and others are just around the corner to usher in a future where 10 gigabits speeds are the norm.

Internet Speeds Are On the Rise

The Internet and Television Association (known as the NTCA) states:Americans Internet Access Speeds

“Over the last decade, top broadband speeds have increased exponentially from 16 MBps all the way to 2 Gbps.

In 2008, only 16% of Americans had access to internet service of 10 Mbps. Today, 95% of Americans can access a 10 Mbps connection, and 1-gigabit speeds are available to 80%.”

What is 10G?

It is important not to confuse 10G with the cellular industry’s 5G (in which the “G” stands for “generation.”)  The “G” in 10G means “gigabits per second,” which is a lightning-fast internet speed. According to the NTCA:

“10G is the broadband platform of the future that will deliver residential internet speeds of 10 gigabits per second—10 times faster than today’s networks. With upgraded power and capacity, 10G will enable creators and innovators to fulfill their dreams while providing reliability and security.”

Why is 10G important?

The word “home” has been redefined over the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For millions of workers around the world, their home has become a virtual workplace; it has also become their school, doctor’s office, and main entertainment venue. In addition, American homes are transitioning into smart residences where many connected devices need to communicate seamlessly.

Here are some statistics:

  • Around 38 percent of American households added more internet-connected devices during the pandemic.
  • The average U.S. household has about 25 connected devices, compared to 11 in 2019.
  • Media and work appliances are the most common devices found in North American homes.
  • Nearly 40 percent of smart device owners paid for faster internet speed at home.

10G Devices StatToday’s homes are a center of constant activity. Children learn and play games online while their parents work from home, shop for the family, and virtually attend doctor’s appointments. Paul Silvergate, vice chairman of the global professional service company, Deloitte, told Reuters:

“The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was like a time machine that suddenly propelled us tens of years into the future. It has changed how we interact with our connected devices, ultimately helping consumers, healthcare providers, education professionals, technology innovators, and others adapt, innovate, and thrive in our daily lives.”

And the exciting news is that 10G is poised to take a huge role in ensuring all these vital devices work at their full potential.

How will 10G technologies change our lives?

Cable internet service providers have spent billions of dollars upgrading their networks. At present, this has culminated into the super-fast one-gigabit speed most businesses and many households enjoy.

Telecomm innovators at NCTA, CableLabs, SCTE, and GIGA Europe announced the 10G initiative in 2019 and have made steady progress toward deploying this next-generation service.

But, what will 10G mean to us?

Smart Homes

10G will bring the next level of connectivity to smart homes. In September 2020, cable television company Mediacom, in partnership with CableLabs and NCTA, conducted the first 10G smart home field trial in Ames, Iowa. 

This real-life example demonstrates how homes will function in the future and includes 70 interconnected devices that require the lightning-fast speeds, low latency, and increased security that 10G offers. This home displays:

  • Automated heating, lighting, and security
  • Interconnected kitchen appliances that make meal preparation easier
  • Support for wellbeing, such as smart pillboxes, habit tracking, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) tools to alleviate stress
  • Online gaming enhancements like online channels such as Twitch, communication platforms like Discord, and Oculus Quest VR headsets
  • An even a light field display table that produces holographic images and displays 8K movies

Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a “hospital in the home” experience that uses video conferencing, store-and-forward imaging, and streaming media to conduct medical appointments and share confidential information safely. 10G will expand this trend to enable medical personnel to care for patients in their own homes.

Education/Distance LearningDistance Learning

When educational facilities of all kinds closed because of the pandemic, it forced educators to leverage technology in ways never before imagined. But, even with schools and universities opening up again, distance learning is here to stay. 10G technology will enable students to learn in more interactive and engaging ways with things like the highest-quality imagery, game-based learning, and interactive 3-D learning simulations. But most importantly, 10G connectivity will give students more access to education because location and income will no longer be barriers.

Speed Boost for Businesses

Small and medium-sized businesses depend on internet connectivity to utilize point-of-sale systems, connect workers’ devices, VoIP phones, and back up essential company data. Even traditional brick-and-mortar stores have fundamental functions that require connectivity. In addition, location-independent businesses, including home-based offices, rely heavily on internet access. 

10G technology has strong potential to improve business connectivity. One example is video conferencing apps such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet, which can be used for business meetings. These platforms have the prospect of significantly improved features that will give users virtual experiences never before seen because of 10G’s high speeds and bandwidth capacity.

Why does your business need a 10G network?

The simple answer to this question is that nearly all the new digital tools needed to be successful in the business sector require the fastest and most reliable network possible. 10G speed will improve efficiency, reduce network congestion, and enable employees to respond to customers faster and generally be more productive.

The 10G platform promises seamless connectivity, reliability, increased capacity, and improved security—all at speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. 10G’s innovations will transform user experiences both at home and at work—or wherever people need to connect. This far-reaching technology will create new capabilities for:

  • Businesses of all sizes
  • Connected gaming
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Smart cities
  • Video streaming
  • Virtual and augmented reality

Versa Technology Inc. challenges itself to push the limits of protocol boundaries and create equipment that reflects the changing networking demands of enterprises and small businesses. With two decades of experience, Versa Technology has developed an expansive product portfolio to support various networking applications in a diverse range of networking environments.