Wired have just blogged about the next frontier for bandwidth gridlock: http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/03/fatter-airwaves.html. The article focuses on a report just issued by Ryasavy Research, which says:

"Several users within the same cell sector engaging simultaneously in high‐throughput applications (e.g., video streaming) can quickly strain the network, impacting the user experience for every consumer accessing the network, even if they are not themselves engaging in bandwidth intensive activities"

"The company" (not sure who this was, but might have been AT&T) found that "simply having four 3G network users in the same place chopped throughput by 60%".  Ouch. 

What's next?  gridlock at home?  As more devices become internet aware and generally more communiative will we find our bandwidth being eaten up by the fridge, toaster and hairdryer?

"Honey! the microwave doesn't have net access again, I'm just shutting down the fridge..."