Visual Networking Index (VNI)

Networks are an essential part of business, education, government, and home communications. Many residential, business, and mobile IP networking trends are being driven largely by a combination of video, social networking and advanced collaboration applications, termed “visual networking.”

The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) is the company's ongoing effort to forecast and analyze the growth and use of IP networks worldwide.

In February 2012, Cisco released the Cisco VNI Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, 2011 - 2016. Highlights from the updated research includes the following projections:

• By 2016, global mobile data traffic will reach 10.8 exabytes per month (130 exabytes annually); growing 18-fold from 2011 to 2016.
• By 2016, mobile video will represent 71% of all mobile data traffic.
• By 2016, 22% of global mobile data traffic will be offloaded to fixed networks.
• By 2016, tablets will account for more than 10% of global mobile data traffic.
• By 2016, 4G connections will account for 36% of global mobile data traffic.

Resources

• Cisco VNI Global Mobile Data Forecast and Methodology, 2011 - 2016
• Cisco VNI Q&A Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, 2011 - 2016
• Cisco VNI: Forecast and Methodology, 2010-2015
• Entering the Zettabyte Era
• Cisco VNI Forecast Q&A: June 2011

Cisco is developing free applications and tools to help you better understand your network connection, and how you are using network resources.

Resources

Cisco VNI Applications
Download a free application forselect iPhone and Blackberry models that tests your cellular or Wi-Fi connection speed. You can compare your data against other users and share your results.

Cisco VNI Usage research provides quantitative insights into current activity on service provider networks and qualitative samples of consumers' online behavior. In this cooperative program, more than 20 global service providers share anonymous, aggregate data with Cisco to analyze current network usage trends and gauge future infrastructure requirements.

Participating service providers serve millions of subscribers from around the world. They represent the mobile, wireline, and cable segments throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pac and various emerging markets.

• Cisco VNI Usage Study (October 2010)
• Cisco VNI Usage Q&A

• 14-FEB-2012
  Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast Projects 18-Fold Growth in Global Mobile Internet Data Traffic From 2011 to 2016
• 01-JUN-2011
  Global Internet Traffic Projected to Quadruple by 2015
• 25-MAY-2011
  Cisco to Announce New Internet Traffic Growth Forecast and Host International Forum