It's one thing for Verizon Wireless to announce that video makes up 50 percent of its wireless network traffic. It's another thing that the company has also estimated that, by 2017, video will make up two-thirds of all traffic for the network.
The reason half of Verizon's traffic is comprised of video streaming/downloads might have something to do with a hefty investment in its LTE network, as per a speech made by company CEO Lowell McAdam at a National Association of Broadcasters conference on Tuesday, April 9.
"With 3G you have video clips but there is buffering," McAdam said, as relayed by Fierce Wireless. "With 4G you can stream video."
Fierce Wireless also noticed how odd it was that McAdam appeared at the NAB show at all, "considering that broadcasters have always had a fairly contentious relationship with wireless operators over spectrum." Fierce Wireless goes on to note that this might be why "there were so many empty seats at McAdam's one-on-one discussion with NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith."
It's further speculated that McAdam's attendance at the NAB show may have had something to do with his assuaging fears of broadcasters concerning LTE Broadcast technology. Broadcasters were unsurprisingly made a bit anxious after McAdam talked publicly about his desire to use LTE Broadcast technology that could allow Verizon to broadcast live events, such as the 2014 Super Bowl, to company customers.
"We don't want to get in the way of broadcasters," McAdam said, adding that some events — such as the Super Bowl — could receive an added "dimension" and be a bit better via Verizon. Considering the rather backhanded statement along with the fact that video is taking over more and more of Verizon's traffic — representing more than half in less than five years — it would be no surprise if Verizon took on traditional broadcasting in a whole new way very soon.
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