The Visual Network Index, by digital infrastructure provider Cisco shows New Zealand is leading the pack in IP traffic, with the biggest trend being machine-to-machine devices.
Last year the number of Kiwis online was 3.9 million, which is set to grow to 4.4 million by 2020. That is an impressive 94 percent of the total population. The figures globally suggest only 52 per cent of the population will be Internet uses in four years time.
Machine-to-machine devices are devices that communicate with one another rather than users. Applications such as video surveillance, connected technology used in factories, sensors tracking stock on farms and digital health monitors.
Machine-to-machine deceives are forecast to make up 70 percent of all devices in New Zealand by 2020.
New Zealand’s IP networks will support 17 million more devices and connections, increasing from 20 million in 2015 to 37 million in 2020.
Faster broadband speeds are also driving growth north in IP traffic, with the Government-sponsored Ultra-Fast Broadband rollout playing a leading role.
New Zealand’s average fixed broadband speed will jump 2.5 times by 2020 and reach 49.1 megabits per second (Mbps).
New Zealand will be ahead of the global average and rank near the fastest speeds globally by 2020. North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific will have average speeds of about 51 Mbps.
Cisco worked with Arbor Networks to help quantify the current and future threats of DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks.
With a growing dependence on mobile and fixed broadband networks over the next five years, Cisco said DDoS attacks were projected to increase from 6.6 million to 17 million attacks globally.
Glen Bearman
Glen Bearman, head of digital transformation for Cisco in New Zealand, said the findings showed digital transformation was happening quickly.
The way Internet and devices were being used had the potential to improve the way New Zealanders live and work, he said.
Bearman also said there were major considerations for businesses, as New Zealand becomes an increasingly digital place.
“Businesses are in a war of attraction to retain employees and customers… [People] expect flexibility in how they engage with the workplace,” he says. “Digital needs strong leadership from the top, and executive sponsorship of a digital transformation programme is critical.”
