Cisco Forecasts 3.3 Zettabytes of Global Annual IP Traffic in 2021

Global annual IP traffic will total 3.3 zettabytes by 2021, up from 1.2 in 2016, Cisco reported. Monthly global traffic in 2021 is expected to reach 278 exabytes, up from 96 exabytes per month last year. That will parallel an expected rise in the total number of internet users to 4.6 billion people, from 3.3 billion in 2016. Increased adoption of personal devices and machine-to-machine connections and increased video streaming are among primary drivers of the global IP traffic increase, Cisco said. “As global digital transformation continues to impact billions of consumers and businesses, the network and security will be essential to support the future of the Internet,” said General Manager-Service Provider Business Yvette Kanouff in a news release.