Since the internet entered the consumer market in the 1990s, it has completely transformed the way humans access new information.

In the 1990s, as the internet was in its infancy, typical applications were mainly used for publishing or accessing static information. Among the most widespread applications were email communication and information search, which are far from the diversified applications of the internet today. This transformation is closely related to the speed of internet connectivity, the prevalence of internet usage, and the continuous advancement of development technologies.

With the development of communication technology, educational courses on internet usage in schools, and easier internet software development techniques, internet applications gradually became more widespread. Among them, internet streaming has developed the fastest and has become closely intertwined with everyone's lives.

What is Internet Streaming?

Internet streaming services are a method of delivering audiovisual content to user terminal devices through the internet, and internet streaming content can be divided into two types: live-streaming or pre-recorded.

Factors Driving the Development of Internet Streaming

The development of internet infrastructure, advanced client devices, and evolving internet applications are the three most important factors driving the rapid development of internet streaming services. If any of these factors are lacking, the application of streaming is unlikely to succeed.

Since 2000, the global internet infrastructure has rapidly expanded. Although the growth rates vary in different countries or regions, overall internet usage has significantly increased.

On the other hand, the development of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) has also fueled the popularity of internet streaming services. CDNs increase the number of users the internet can accommodate compared to traditional single servers. For example, if a video needs to be distributed globally, using a traditional single server for distribution may limit the number of users due to server capacity constraints. However, by distributing content through CDNs, the content can be stored on multiple CDN nodes closer to users, thus not only spreading the load but also improving user experience. This deployment method has clear advantages over using traditional single servers.

The development of client devices is also a crucial factor driving internet streaming services. Until around 2010, mobile devices were not yet widespread, and the mobile devices at that time could not meet the computational requirements of internet streaming applications. Therefore, internet streaming applications developed at that time were mainly for desktop computers, limiting the popularity of streaming applications. Moreover, not all computer devices had internet connectivity at that time. This situation persisted until the widespread adoption of smartphones, which have internet connectivity. As users spend more time using smartphones, the opportunities for using internet streaming services also increase. Recent statistics have shown that the time humans spend on mobile devices far exceeds the time spent on traditional audiovisual devices.

Different internet applications have different technological requirements. For example, internet microservices typically require more cloud computing power, while internet storage services typically require more storage space. Internet streaming services typically require fast network transmission speeds and computational power on client devices. In addition to the rapid development of global internet infrastructure, the transmission speeds of mobile devices have also significantly increased over the past decade. From the typical 3G transmission speed (approximately 3Mbps) to the current 4G transmission speed (42Mbps) or the recently introduced 5G network, the improvement in transmission speeds of mobile devices enables streaming applications to be implemented on mobile devices.

Furthermore, with the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more people began using the internet for communication, and many individuals transitioned from being recipients of internet information to being publishers of information. YouTube Live is one example of a streaming application where the number of publishers has significantly increased. Other streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and others have also experienced substantial growth in their user bases. Additionally, many businesses have started using social streaming platforms for customer promotion and sales due to the decrease in foot traffic in physical stores.

Common Examples of Internet Streaming Applications
Here are some common examples of internet streaming services that are likely familiar to everyone:

• Video Streaming Platforms
  • Netflix / Amazon prime / iQiyi / HBO / Apple TV+ / Disney+ / Hulu
• Music Streaming Platforms
  • Apple Music / Spotify / KKBox
• Gaming Streaming Platforms
  • Twitch / Steam / Xbox Live / Playstation Network
• Social Streaming Platforms
  • YouTube Live / Zoom / WeChat Live / Facebook Live / 17 Live / MeMe

The Future of Internet Streaming

The development of internet streaming in recent years has changed human lifestyle habits. Some traditional services have been phased out or transformed into new streaming models. For example, the distribution volume of music CDs has significantly decreased compared to over a decade ago, as most users now prefer music streaming platforms. We also see video streaming beginning to replace traditional video consumption methods, with some households no longer installing traditional televisions. This trend has only just begun, and we can expect it to continue developing in the near future. As other related technologies mature (such as 5G and the widespread adoption of IoT) or new technologies emerge, new applications and business opportunities based on internet streaming will inevitably emerge. Let us seize the opportunity to embrace this era of global streaming.

1） https://ourworldindata.org/internet