A survey by International Data Corporation (IDC) for Zeugma Systems yielded results at
odds with the views of many telecom policy makers and industry
observers.
On Bandwidth Capping and Metering
- 81 percent do not like the idea of establishing a bandwidth cap and charging for use above the cap.
- 51
percent would try to change service providers if their BSP imposed
bandwidth caps. Interestingly, light and moderate users are even more
opposed to capping and metering than are heavy users. - 83 percent either do not know what a gigabyte is or have no idea how many they use.
- Only 5 percent said unequivocally that "those who use more should pay more."
On Premium Bandwidth Services
- 94
percent of respondents saw value in BSP services that dynamically
allocate premium bandwidth for certain types of traffic, such as video,
VOIP, gaming, and telecommuter VPNs. - 54
percent would actively seek to change service providers if another BSP
offered this service; 26 percent would be willing to pay their BSPs
additional fees for premium bandwidth services
Zeugma vice president of marketing Kevin Walsh adds,
"These results are both an opportunity and a warning for BSPs. The
opportunity is that consumers are signaling a willingness to pay more
for dedicated bandwidth over and above basic high speed internet for
such services as premium internet video, VOIP, gaming, and corporate
VPN access. The warning is a clear distaste for bandwidth caps. At a
minimum, providers moving forward with bandwidth capping schemes may
want to consider a more intelligent and flexible application of caps."
Walsh continued, "Zeugma customers are uniquely able to capitalize in
these market characteristics by quickly prototyping and delivering
advanced bandwidth allocation services and agile bandwidth capping
mechanisms."
The IDC survey consisted of responses from 787 U.S.
consumers and was conducted between August 18 and August 29, 2008.
Contact Matt Davis, IDC at 508-935-4254 for additional information.