From a report in the Wall Street Journal:
Sony won’t use download-only model for the next PlayStation
“An optical disc drive will be included in the next-generation PlayStation console being introduced next year, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Sony reportedly looked at making the next console a download-only machine but decided that Internet connections around the world are still too inconsistent to justify a move away from consoles that accept game discs.”

As we have continued to mention, the global and even national internet infrastructure is not ready to accommodate the interest of those looking to convert fully to an online model. Optical Discs will still have a significant future facilitating the dissemination of digital content, albeit video, games, data, etc.