CommScope: Millennial connectivity habits fuel demand for greater network agility

Global network operators should plan for continued capacity growth, greater flexibility, a larger array of services and corresponding billing models to address societal changes brought on by the Millennial generation, according to CommScope's recent research study into the lifestyles and spending trends of people born between 1980 and 2000. The company contends that its recent Millennial study findings also have implications for a range of its constituents, including network architects, installers and operators, chief information officers and information technology leaders, and real estate developers.

"Slated to represent three of every four people in the global workforce by 2025, Millennials have preferences and spending habits that directly impact telecommunications service providers and content providers," states the study's summary. "For example, more than 85% of Millennials have smart phones, and more than three quarters (77%) of Millennials agreed or strongly agreed that they expect to be able to stream video wherever they are. Millennials are willing to pay for higher levels of service; for example, half of millennials said they would pay 5% of their annual salary for super-fast Internet."

According to CommScope, other key findings of the report included the following points:

-- Millennials are so accustomed to the Internet that they would rather give up plumbing, heating and air conditioning, personal transportation and cable TV before they would go without connectivity and the electricity needed to power their devices.

-- Two-thirds of Millennials agreed or strongly agreed that social media is their major form of social communication, compared with one-third of Baby Boomers.

-- Three-quarters of Millennials said they would like to adjust the speed of their Internet services depending on their activities -- and pay accordingly.