The future of communication in 2015

Introduction

Below are the results of the scenario planning process of group 5 of class RSM EMBA05 (Giuseppe Bruni, Graham King, Erik Lousberg, Jeroen Plink and Rolando Ranauro) on the following subject:

The future of communication in 2015

The choice for this subject was made when discussing the intensifying battle unfolding in The Netherlands between the incumbent telephony provider, KPN and the cable operator, UPC.

Both companies enjoy a monopoly in their core product offerings – that is to say telephony, in the case of KPN and TV/Video, in the case of UPC – and were originally content to restrict their efforts solely to such offerings. Gradually, however, rapid technological advancements enabled both companies to compete across multiple products - TV/Video, the Internet and telephony (fixed and mobile). A recent development was UPC’s attack on KPN’s fixed line telephony business through VoIP (voice over IP). This was the first step in the rapid convergence of all technologies to the IP network. KPN have responded through an attack on UPC’s core product by investing heavily in TV/Video over the Internet (IPTV). How will the battle between the companies now develop?

The discussion on this battle sparked a discussion on the wider subject of communication: how are people going to communicate in 10 years, will there be a drive towards more working from home, what does "always connected" mean in practice for peoples lives, what does greater connectivity mean for work-life balance, will the increased connectivity drive people towards more local networks or will there be a drive for globalisation. The key to being able to answer these questions is the drawing of a considered conclusion on how the communications industry will develop over the medium term – say the next 10 years.

Scenarios on Communication in 2015

Two main uncertainties are going to drive the future: the type of network and the level of connectivity.

The network (internet, gsm, satellite, wifi,..) can develop from the today structure to completely free connection, based on open source software and unique standard protocol. Or it can transform to series of noumerous closed protected local networks with access restricion.

The level of connectivity is related to the type and level of connection among humans and among humans and media leading to two possible exteme the triumph of virtuality or the implosion to reality.

- Gaia
- Back to reality Open network, limited human borders
- Elite Islands
- Fear

With this vision four scenario's are defined:
Gaia: Open network, unlimited human borders
Elite Islands: Closed network, unlimited human borders
Fear: Closed network, limited human borders
Never ready (Opposition): Open network, limited human borders.

Research questions

Research question - communication 2015

Driving Forces

Increasing Fear of Sabotage on internet

Increase the connectivity between human and media

Convergence of all media to IP network

Governmental Control of the Internet

The Increase in the speed of internet connection

The Increase in ubiquity of the internet

increase in teleworking

Globalization

Improvement Nano/Biotechnology

Growing of closed community

Increased used of MSN and other instant messaging tools

Disappearance of "family"

Systems diagram

Based on the research questions, the driving forces, and the enablers and inhibitors to the driving forces the following systems diagram was created.

Key Certainties and Uncertainties

From the systems diagram and the links between the various elements of the system the following set of key certainties and key uncertainties was derived. Taking into account are also the strength of the links and the number of links between the various elements. Grouping certain elements on a higher aggregate level gave us a better overview and understanding to the (un)certainties:

Relative certainties

- Increase of ubiquity/availability/speed of internet
-
Globalization: increasing interdependancy among people/countries and flow of information/goods/people
- Different media will converge to one infrastructure (IP Network) which means that cost of communication will decrease
- Improvement in nano/biotechnology will happen

Key uncertainties

- The extent to which one lives its life on line (This is going to redefine all elements in the systems diagram that relate to family/human relations)
- Are new boundaries going to be raised to prevent globalisation, are we moving towards a global village or to new nationalism (new protectionism and governmental control) or will there be a building of "closed communities"?
- Speed of convergence is not clear, level of adoption of new technologies is unclear and there may be difficulties in managing the flow of information
- Increased connectivity human/media will lead to all kinds of issues such as privacy and genetic issues

Research Documentation

Pause or Play? The Future of Interactive Services for TV Accenture white paper

Path to Profitability: How Cable Companies can Achieve Attractive Returns on iTV Servicesanother Accenture white paper

Freeband Communication is a Dutch national research program aiming to create a leading knowledge position for the Netherlands in the area of ambient, intelligent communication. Link to Freeband

Personal Networking Pilot 2008
link to: PNP 2008

Identity 2.0