The FI3P study has published a their second report providing a quantitative
and qualitative analysis of the European Internet sector and its foreseeable
evolution in the period 2010-2014. The results are based on data and knowledge
of the ICT sector, complemented by an in-depth analysis of the profile and
strategies of the Top-100 European Internet industry actors. The report analyses the Internet’s role in Europe from
three main dimensions including the European Internet Economy, the European
Internet Industry and the European Internet market. The analysis of these dimensions
shows the main cross-cutting trends shaping the evolution of the Internet in
Europe and in the world such as Internet and the Cloud, The
evolution of business demand, network infrastructure trends, the
emergence of the Internet of Things based on M2M
connectivity.
The report presents the main actors (see figure below) providing the
technologies and services constituting the Internet infrastructures and
enabling its use in Europe highlighting the importance and influence of
the emerging web ecosystem. The web ecosystem is the most
recent layer of the Internet value chain and the fastest growing. The
definition of
web ecosystem highlights that the relationship between providers and
users is
different from traditional industries, with high users involvement (the
“prosumer”
concept, the combined role of producers and consumers of content and
services). To gain competitiveness in the Web ecosystem, EU actors
need to overcome current bottlenecks and exploit web-based innovation,
launch new services and applications and expand in new markets, within
and
outside Europe. The EC might help in supporting the development of open
web
platforms and removing regulatory barriers to new applications and
services, a key issue in the recent SESERV paper on Legislative Tensions in Participation and Privacy.
The report concludes with a few key messages:
- The interaction between technology
innovation and
demand evolution will be the major factor shaping take-up and adoption
of the Future
Internet.
- A trend to watch is the development of Cloud Computing:
penetration in 2009 was only 2% penetration in Europe, but the expected
growth rate (CAGR) over the next 4 years is 39%. The question is whether
or not
Cloud Computing will be adopted widely by small enterprises and
government
organizations, thereby opening a new market for advanced IT
applications.
- The balance between stakeholders governing the Internet
is shifting, and this may have unforeseen consequences. Commercial players and
users will have a much greater say in the governance of the Internet, while the
small community of technology developers will see its influence reduced.
- A possible consequence of a greater influence of commercial
players can be seen in the debate around Net Neutrality, which may result in
tiered fees structures for Internet traffic, privileging business traffic. But also
the growing attempts by many governments to build fences and barriers around parts of the
Internet may put at risk the openness and universality of the current
Internet environment.
All details on the methodology, statistical tables, main technology trends and TOP 103 Internet industry suppliers profiles are also available |