2021.09.03 – Open Broadband News

Post pandemic consumer needs for home Wi-Fi dramatically altered – according to Airties survey!

 With the rise in remote working and learning, 58% of respondents across the US, UK and Germany said they encountered more home Wi-Fi issues than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and a remarkable 55% said they had daily issues with their home Wi-Fi, according to a recent survey commissioned by Airties. Consumers also strongly prefer their broadband operator to take the lead in ensuring a quality Wi-Fi experience, with 80% saying they would rather their broadband subscription include home Wi-Fi networking gear instead of purchasing it themselves through retail.

The survey of 1,525 respondents across the US, UK and Germany, who either had to work or learn from home over the past year, illustrates how the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed consumers’ expectations for home Wi-Fi. Unsurprisingly, 90% of people said they are using their home Wi-Fi more now than ever, with at the top end of the scale, almost half of Americans (48%) using their Wi-Fi for an additional 7 to 10 hours per day, compared to 21% of Germans and 36% of Brits. As people sought out quieter places to work or study, the survey found that 65% were using Wi-Fi in unusual places in their homes, such as garages, attics, and patios. This correlates with the 56% who said they have areas in their home where Wi-Fi does not work well, and demonstrates a significant market need for whole-home Wi-Fi solutions.

See the full results, geographical locations and breakdown of the survey here.

The US sets date for closing digital divide 

When the US Congress eventually gets an infrastructure package to President Biden’s desk, it will contain $65 billion for broadband, the country’s most significant investment in Internet infrastructure to date. But several states aren’t waiting around for that influx of cash to make multi-million-dollar investments toward closing their digital divides.

Last week, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced $400 million for a new Connect Maryland initiative to achieve universal broadband access by 2025. The funding includes $300 million from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan passed in March – previously allocated by the state legislature – and an additional $100 million announced by the governor.

Furthermore, Maryland will establish its own Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Subsidy Program, whereby those receiving a discount through the FCC’s EBB program can use state subsidies to increase their reduction to up to $65/month (for up to 12 months). According to the FCC’s most recent numbers, Maryland currently has 72,597 residents enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

Ecuador set for broadband boom as profits projected to rise by 8.3%

Fixed broadband revenue in Ecuador will expand at an 8.3% CAGR between 2020 and 2025, increasing its weight over the total market’s revenue from 18.6% in 2020 to 26% in 2025. Growth will be mainly driven by increasing adoption of cable and Fiber-To-The-X (FTTx) based broadband services across the country. Fixed broadband penetration of households will jump from 12.7% in 2020 to 18.2% in 2025.

At the end of 2020, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) accounted for 39.6% of the total fixed broadband lines, followed by Fiber (35.6%) and cable (22.9%). GlobalData projects that DSL subscription will decline through 2025 and will account for an estimated 20.3% share by 2025. On the other hand, fiber’s share of the total broadband lines will increase from 35.6% in 2020 to 56.8% by year-end 2025.

UK seek to ‘level the regulatory playing field’ in streaming shake-up plans

At present traditional linear TV channels, such as BBC One and Sky, are regulated differently from on-demand broadband-based TV (IPTV) services like Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV. But the UK government has launched a consultation that seeks to “level the regulatory playing field’, which may force streaming services to adopt stricter rules.

Except for BBC’s iPlayer platform, the UK Government notes that streaming services are not subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which sets out appropriate standards for content including harmful or offensive material, accuracy, fairness and privacy. For example, there are some protections for under-18s but minimal rules exist to regulate content. “There are very few rules to protect audiences, for example, from misleading health advice or pseudoscience documentaries,” said the announcement.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden MP, said: “We want to give UK audiences peace of mind that however they watch TV in the digital age, the shows they enjoy are held to the same high standards that British broadcasting is world-renowned for. It is right that now we have left the EU, we look at introducing proportionate new rules so that UK audiences are protected from harm.”

On the way! Chinese 14mn chips set to enter full-scale production next year

Shifting trends in semiconductors will see 14nm microchips achieve full-scale production in China during 2022. Chinese chip manufacturers and component suppliers have overcome the most important technical challenges and succeeded in localizing the entire 14nm chip production line and supply chain, according to a leading expert at Zhejiang University.

Wu Hanming, Dean of the College of Microelectronics and Nanoelectronics at Zhejiang University believes that: “In the post-Moore era, the development of industrial technology has slowed down. However, in China, the space and opportunities for innovation have been increasing. Domestic companies have invested a lot of resources in manufacturing technology recently, providing our equipment with the capabilities needed in large scale chip manufacturing production lines, for example, etching, CVD heat treatment, CMP, cleaning machines, and more.”