A new report from the Royal Society has warned the growing power needs of online networks could lead to a possible rationing of broadband services for many areas of the country.

With the internet currently accounting for approximately eight per cent of the nation's total power needs, the academics at the Royal Society have warned action could soon be needed to limit the likelihood of a future 'capacity crunch'.

Andrew Ellis, Professor of Optical Communications at Aston University, stated experts believe that the growth in power consumption for online services in the UK could now double every four years, if not faster.

"It is growing so fast, currently at an exponential rate, that, in theory, it could be using all the UK power generation by 2035," he argued.

As a result, the Royal Society Society is calling for increased attention for this issue, as the likelihood is that unfettered growth in power consumption could lead to a significant increase in costs for consumers in the years ahead to stay online.

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