New Fiber Networks Could Improve the Stability of the Internet

There’s an arms race, online and off, for better Internet speeds. As Google expands its Fiber network, AT&T has begun making the case that it could offer fiber in 100 cities. But why are companies suddenly rushing to install fiber? The simple answer is that consumer demand for streaming services is growing massively.

According to the BBC, Netflix now accounts for half of all streaming online, with more than 44 million subscribers worldwide. In the later part 2013, CNET reported that Netflix and YouTube combined accounted for 50 percent of peak Internet bandwidth use in the U.S.