Telecommunications firms Verizon and SBC Communications, which are preparing to launch Internet-based video services, argued for looser regulations for such expanded services at a hearing Wednesday before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications -- "The FCC and Congress have so far employed a light-touch approach to regulating the Internet and IP-based services," testified SBC senior executive vice president Lee Ann Champion. "We are not building a cable network, nor do we have any interest in being a cable company offering traditional cable service. Instead, we intend to offer customers a new total communications experience." Later this year, Verizon plans to launch an Internet-based TV service called FiOS TV, which it hopes to offer to 3 million homes by the end of the year. It has already signed up NBC Universal and Starz to provide content for the service. SBC has invested $4 billion in its Project Lightspeed, which aims to deploy services including IPTV to 18 million households in 13 states within three years. The hearing on new technologies was scheduled as Congress examines new legislation that would update the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to account for new technologies.
The digital identity market is evolving and growing. After years of fragmented adoption and experimentation, we're witnessing the convergence of regulatory mandates, tech maturity, and more market demand. The fundamental challenge has always been straightforward: how do we prove who we are in an increasingly digital world without creating security vulnerabilities or sacrificing user experience? The answer emerging today involves a complex ecosystem of regulations, standards, and technologies that are finally aligning to make digital identity possible, practical, and scalable. Digital Identity Market Development Recent market analysis by Juniper Research reveals compelling growth projections that underscore this market's maturity: Market expansion from $51 billion (2025) to $80 billion (2030) — a 56 percent growth rate driven by concrete fundamentals rather than speculative hype. Two primary growth drivers — tightening regulatory requirements and maturing technologies, includin...