Warning that internet is facing overload

AN IT analyst has warned the internet is approaching overload and governments worldwide must invest in IT infrastructure to allow it evolve.

Ireland must update its information and communications technology (ICT) sector to ensure it is not left behind, according to Miguel Ponce de Leon, chief technologist at Telecommunications Software and Systems Group at Waterford Institute of Technology.

He was one of the speakers at a conference in Kilkenny on the future of the internet, which also heard from key experts in industry, academic institutions and the private and public sectors.

The third annual meeting of the Irish Future Internet Forum was jointly hosted by the TSSG and Invest Kilkenny and heard warnings about the capacity of the internet to handle the constant increase in data and bandwidth-heavy services.

“The internet is at the centre of all of our social and economic activities,” Mr de Leon said.

“Huge capital investments are being made across Europe, the USA and Asia to create a future internet that will meet the unprecedented demands of our knowledge society. Ireland must not be left behind.

“It is critically important that Ireland engages fully in the conception and development of the future internet to ensure the sustainable growth of our ICT sector.”

He said Ireland is facing a “crucial junction” in the path of future internet development, research and education.

“A thriving IT sector has been created in Ireland, but without further investment in more advanced infrastructure and services, we could adversely effect the growth of new industry and direct investment.”

Future internet technologies will play a critical role in the development of “smart energy” infrastructures, according to the WIT academic.

“Energy supply will need to evolve into a dynamic system to provide the smart energy infrastructure needed to support society in 2020 and beyond,” Mr de Ponce said.

Yesterday’s forum at the Parade Tower in Kilkenny Castle was attended by more than 100 delegates.

Topics up for discussion included threats to the future of Ireland’s smart economy and ways to protect Ireland’s position as a leading ICT research hub.

Other speakers at included Microsoft’s chief architect of identity, Kim Cameron, former Federal Privacy Commissioner of Australia Malcolm Crompton and Michel Riguidel, head of the Department of Computer Science and Networks at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications in Paris.