A Big Tech telco tax could backfire badly

A Big Tech telco tax could backfire badly
Google, Meta, Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft generate 56% of all global internet traffic. (Image: Getty)
Peter Griffin
Here’s a sobering fact about internet use: about 56% of all global internet traffic is generated by six companies – Google, Meta, Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.That’s how concentrated the internet has become, dominated by a handful of companies that deliver digital services to billions of people. According to telecoms consulting firm TeleGeography, global bandwidth usage grew at a rate of 30% between 2018 and 2022. Bandwidth capacity itself increased 28% this year alone, to a total of 997 terabits per second.Very soon,...

More Opinion

Red tape? More scissors, less string please
Opinion

Deb Te Kawa: Red tape? More scissors, less string please

We need a complete rethink of how we approach regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Is advertising ready for the giant babushka?
Opinion

Kelly Bennett: Is advertising ready for the giant babushka?

Advertising was built on mergers but has not seen anything like IPG and Omnicom joining.

Microsoft’s shiny new NZ datacentre
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Microsoft’s shiny new NZ datacentre

NZ is a sort of experiment demonstrating the role of high-capacity infrastructure.

Peter Griffin 12 Dec 2024
Token-ology: the next thing
Opinion

David Chaplin: Token-ology: the next thing

Despite promising developments, fund tokenisation remains in an experimental phase.

David Chaplin 11 Dec 2024