2013: The Year of Fibre Optic Broadband

Ever since Sir Tim Berners-Lee found a new way of using the internet while working at CERN in 1989, our reliance on it has accelerated year-on-year. Since the turn of the millenium, the number of people online has risen from only 360 million, to a colossal 2.4 billion. Whereas traditional cabling (which sends electrical signals down copper wire) is prone to interference as it moves further away from the telephone exchange, fibre optic cabling passes signals at the speed of light, and doesn't lose its quality. 2012 saw huge developments in the provision of fast and affordable Fibre Optic broadband; and now HD video streaming, browsing, and highly-responsive online gaming are all becoming faster thanks to the virtual revolution. In 2013 we can only expect these developments to be further accelerated, as the potential for fibre optic continues to grow. Here we will aim to have a look as to the reasons as to why fibre optic broadband is set to take off, as well as also looking a the more technical side of what fibre optic broadband is all about.

As a nation, we're becoming increasingly susceptible to 'e-anxiety', with 57% of Londoners feeling uncomfortable or worried when unable to check their email or Facebook accounts. In the coming year, we'll likely see huge developments in how we communicate. Facebook have already introduced a video-call service as part of their instant messaging 'Chat' feature, FaceTime comes as standard with all Apple devices with a front-facing camera. Soon we'll even be projecting our video recipients using 'sixth-sense technology' that requires users to interact with the world around them. To find out more, watch Pranav Mistry wowing the crowds with his demonstrations at the latest TED Talks:.

The evolution of how we use the internet has also led to this need for faster connections in the modern age. For some people fast connections are not a luxury, but are actually considered as a necessity. For instance, it is common now for people to work at home. When working at home it is vital that a secure and stable connection is established, as people need instant access to their emails, documents and other online work materials. Slow connections and unstable internet could lead here to less productivity in the working day, making for a frustrating working day, thus the stability and speed of the internet connection is vital here.

Another reason why 2013 will be the year of fibre optic broadband is the increasing use of communication online, particularly on social media sites. As these become increasingly popular, and indeed many people will use this as their primary form of communication, a desire for fast and secure connections will go hand in hand alongside this.

The government is hoping that 90% of homes and businesses will have superfast, fibre optic broadband service by 2015 and many companies are helping to meet that target, with a third of homes already covered.

2013 will undoubtedly see a shift in how we connect to the internet, as the way we use the internet continues to change and evolve, from research to communication purposes, it is only natural that old traditions wane and we move to groundbreaking, forward-thinking conventions.