Internet could "reach capacity"

User generated content could clog up the web

The internet has a limited capacity

Without investment, the internet will reach the limits of its capacity by 2010, according to Jim Cicconi, vice president of legislative affairs for US Telecoms giant AT&T.

The increasing amounts of video and user-generated content being uploaded means content is increasing exponentially.

And the rise of web-hosted software means more applications are being stored online, said Cicconi.

“We are going to be butting up against the physical capacity of the Internet by 2010,” he said.

Cicconi said that at least $55bn (£28bn) worth of investment was needed in new infrastructure in the next three years in the U.S. alone.