Over 8 billion devices are now connected to the internet: Report

There were 8.1 billion internet-connected devices at the end of 2015. These comprised of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs and TV-attached devices such as Apple TV and Chromecast, and audio devices.

Smartphones contribute roughly half a billion new devices to the market while tablets and OTT set-tops are also growing quickly, but operate a full order of magnitude below the smartphone. The report points out that by 2020, this ratio will only widen. Within the forecast period, the smartphone-to-tablet ratio rises to nearly 10:1.

According to HIS, the connected, audio-visual device base is inching toward 13 billion. At 13 connected devices per household, the North American market is the world’s most saturated. Smartphones now outnumber tablets by 6 to 1. The PlayStation has established itself as the leading, connected console platform. Apple TV still leads the DMA market, but is now being outsold by Chromecast. The wireless speaker market is growing tremendously and quickly as well.

 “The proliferation of media-enabled connected endpoints has implications for media consumption, media production, broadband infrastructure, and the business itself of network management and traffic discrimination,” said Merrick Kingston, principal analyst-connected home, at IHS Technology. “It drives media consumption, IP traffic and more.”