Internet-Connected Video Devices To Blow Past Global Population

More than 8 billion Internet-connected video devices will be installed across the globe by 2017, blowing past the population of the planet, so says the latest forecast from IHS.

That IP-connected category includes everything from tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, smartphones, PCs, Blu-ray players and, set-top boxes. With the world’s population expected to reach 7.4 billion people in 2017, this means there will be 1.1 Internet-connected video devices installed for each global citizen, the research firm said. “On average every human being in the world will possess more than one Internet-connected video device by the year 2017 -- a major milestone for the electronics market,” said Merrick Kingston, senior analyst, of broadband technology at IHS. “In practice, ownership of Internet-connected hardware will be concentrated among users whose homes are equipped with broadband connections.”