Are We Prepared for Election ’08?
The 2008 presidential election has drawn an unparalleled level of interest globally, and the Internet is host to a record number of young voters and people abroad looking for campaign updates. With so much at stake this election year, even the Republicans admit that Democrats have the edge, with Obama leading the pack in social networking (he has one million supporters on Facebook), Twittering to his fans and raising campaign funds online.
The latest Internet buzz informs us that in order to be the first to know his choice for Vice President we need to connect with Barack via txt or email. Imagine the number of people clamoring to get the news the moment it is released. The first election to be played out on the Internet begs the question, are providers ready for this potential surge in use that may come between now and November?
How do providers plan for an event like this? Whether it is a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, the Olympics or the 2008 Presidential Election, there are certain events that planners can expect to cause a surge in network usage not just in the United States, but the world over. But this can be especially difficult for carriers to predict and plan for - How do you determine the number of people who will be streaming, emailing, blogging, texting, Twittering and uploading event-related content? Carriers like Verizon have spoken out about the need for moving to real-time and “just in time” network planning, and perhaps an event like the election is good reminder of this planning goal. People want to access and share news in real time, not delayed network time, and proper evaluation and planning are the keys to ensuring a network that is prepared for whatever event comes our way.
Between now and November content delivered with poor quality or not at all risks losing key messages (and potentially voters). It’s up to carriers to deliver on their end, or risk losing as well.
