EP1: Good, bad, ugly — 20 years of broadband evolution: What´s next?

Internet users today have extremely high demands for bandwidth consuming content wherever they are and on multiple platforms, ranging from tiny screened phones to high-definition 3D home theaters. This has driven the rapid deployment of multiple broadband access solutions including legacy infrastructure driven DSL and cable, the almost limitless bandwidth provided by optical fiber to the home (FTTH), and the on-the-go appeal of wireless solutions including 3G/4G cellular or WiMAX. Over the past two decades, each of these technologies has successfully competed for the consumer´s dollar, partly due to the differentiated ways data is accessed tel evisions were naturally connected to the CATV infrastructure and cell phones were linked to a wireless basestation. These traditional boundaries are blurring as cell phone calls are placed over WiFi networks and video content is delivered via an ISP. The common denominator is data access and the delivery method is irrelevant to the end user. As DSL continues to compete with cable and FTTH in the wireline space, more and more users are choosing wireless broadband solutions such as 3G, 4G, or WiMAX even for their home access. In this panel, we will review the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of the recent history of broadband evolution and provide a vision of the future. What are the pros and cons of each technology? Do we need so many competing solutions? What will be the successful business models in the future will everyone (or anyone) make money? Which ones will be the winners ten years from now? Experts from academia, chip suppliers, and broadband systems vendors will share their visions on future broadband markets and technologies. Take your seat and enjoy the debate.