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Global Home Networking Report 2014: Growing Consumer Expectations and Operator Opportunities(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hx6rl6/home_networking) has announced the addition of the "Home Networking: Growing Consumer Expectations and Operator Opportunities" report to their offering. The cornerstone of the connected home is the home network. Content stops at the set top box, voice traffic stops at the network interface device (NID), and telemetric services such as home security systems never leave the home unless there is an infrastructure to carry the signals. Not just any infrastructure, either: as everything becomes digital and speaks a common data transfer language, the home network must be able to route traffic to the appropriate devices. In many respects the home network is becoming at least as complicated conceptually as business data networks. Consumers are beginning to notice: as the complexity of the home computing and communications environment increases, the likelihood that the average consumer will actually be able to make it work decreases. Operators are finding that an increasing percentage of their trouble calls are being generated by issues stemming from the home network. On this backdrop, it is ironic that operators, by and large, do not support the internal home networking environment. At least they aren't prepared to extend support beyond the set top box or wireless router. Many, in fact, define the home network AS the wireless router. As the home network supports an increasing number of devices, consumers are finding that loading issues are beginning to impact their quality of experience, and many are turning to higher broadband access speeds in an attempt to improve the performance of their home environment. It is interesting that the driver for this broadband speed increase is not to stream video, as one might expect, but simply to improve Internet browsing. Survey data support the notion that consumers are ready for comprehensive support from their network operators. If operators were able to provide installation support and ongoing remote support for the home network, the latest Stratecast survey indicates that as much as 49 percent of those surveyed would buy it: a substantial percentage that indicates an unfilled need. This year's review of the home networking space, then, is an example of good news / bad news: home networking could be a substantial opportunity for operators or it could be a nearly insurmountable stumbling block to generating revenues above what the current consumer communication services wallet will support. Operators' financial margins will increasingly be determined by consumers' perception of ease of use and fair pricing. When home network problems make the next advanced service offering difficult to use or seem unacceptably high in price (due to support issues), operators will find that they simply cannot sell additional services. Ultimately, someone will support the home network, and will buffer the consumer from the complexity of communications. Whoever does will become the gatekeeper for the connected home. Will it be the network operator? The verdict is still out. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2 .Introduction 3. Home Networks: State of the Art 4. Home Network Penetration 5. Characteristics of the Home Network 6. Driving the Home Network: Broadband Access Speed 7. Network Operator Opportunities 8. The Last Word For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hx6rl6/home_networking CONTACT: Research and Markets, Laura Wood, Senior Manager. [email protected] Fax from USA: 646-607-1907 Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716 Sector: Home Networks (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/categories.asp?cat_id=328&campaign_id=hx6rl6) . (c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |