Nemertes Research predicts that by 2010, the Internet will be unable to support its user demand unless service providers invest 70% more funds ($55 billion) than planned into their infrastructures.

Streaming video, file sharing, and music downloads are dramatically increasing bandwidth use. And wireless devices such as the iPhone and Blackberrys are giving users greater access. In other words, people are using more bandwidth more often.

As a result, users could increasingly encounter Internet “brownouts” or interruptions to the applications they’ve become accustomed to using on the internet.

If their prediction is true, things could dramatically slow down for Internet ministry in a few years. Personally, I have confidence that either advances in technology will solve the problem or the service providers will come up with the cash to keep the Internet running well. Time will tell. But for now, heads up!

[via USA Today]