Technically Philly: FCC Plans to Increase Internet Speeds

The Federal Communications Commission plans to make the internet 25 times faster through its National Broadband Plan. One of the major goals of the plan is to provide broadband access to all Americans. The plan also intends to provide 100 million American homes with 100 mbps (megabits per second) broadband service in 10 years. The current average internet speed is four mbps.

“This is very possible,” said Justin Shi, an associate professor and associate chair at Temple University’s College of Science and Technology. This advancement in communication technology will eventually change social and economic systems, according to Shi. The seemingly large feat of increasing internet speeds by 25 times can be accomplished by working with the current packet-switching system used by the internet.

Packet-switching refers to information being divided into individual packets before being sent over the internet. The packets are individually sent to a desired computer and are reconstructed upon arrival. “There is no limit to the speed upgrades available in packet-switching systems,” said Shi. This is done by adding more machines, like servers, into the internet’s infrastructure. Meaning the more devices being used the faster the connection will be.

“Packets will always find the shortest route possible, so the more routes the better,” said Shi. In order for the FCC to accomplish its goal the infrastructure needs to be faster. This is because the speed of computer processors has already plateaued, according to Shi. For Shi the FCC’s plan is a very positive thing. “Packet-switching is most economic and stable solution, the sky is the limit,” he said.

By Jared Pass and Chelsea Leposa, Group 36, Technically Philly