Cloud and Internet backbone

Cloud Computing is getting a lot of attention these days. Everyone from CTOs to home users, are exploring to find what’s in it for them, before adopting it.  An incessant thought that’s bouncing back and forth in my mind, from last few days is: Will cloud computing eventually slow down the Internet? or How much stress cloud computing will put upon Internet’s backbone? or Is Internet’s backbone strong enough to bear the stress, cloud computing will eventually put on it?

Cloud Computing is expected to make the user data available anywhere and anytime in the cloud. Netbook makers (Asus, Dell, HP, et cetera) are relying on this fact to design netbooks. Making data available anywhere and anytime in cloud, is a costlier affair in terms of bandwidth. Over the past few years, a considerable amount of increase in End User connection speed is observed in both developed and developing countries, which people think is good for cloud computing.

So, what we have in Cloud scenario are high capacity Cloud Servers and End Users (whose connection speed is continously increasing). But, what about the Internet backbone? Is Internet backbone really ready to bear the load cloud computing will put on it in future?

Let me make the scenario more clearer: Assume Cloud Servers as 12 lane highway, End Users as 6 lane highway and Internet backbone as 4 lane highway. Now, since Internet backbone is the only connection between Cloud Servers and End Users, traffic will eventually slowdown when it has to pass through Internet backbone, regardless of the higher capacity Cloud Servers and End Users. Using the analogy, in real world too, Cloud Servers are of higher capacity and so are the End Users, but the ability of Internet backbone to handle the traffic surges as Cloud Computing goes mainstream, might be questionable.

Suggestions and criticisms welcome!