I just stumbled unto Gilads post:
Sadly enough, in rural Mexico, the government hasn’t opened up its regulations. And that, according to the author, directly impacts the lives of more than 50 million Mexican who live in porverty.
Well that is true, but not 100% there is a very feasible way to combat digital divide for those 50 million people, the thing is that until now it would require that a private invest on it, (which they don’t cuz poor cant pay) or to open a new government-owned company to provide access. how ?
Well finally CFE (Federal Electricity Commission) was granted permission to rent electric lines to transmit data along with electricity but only with a restriction, they cannot offer internet to the public just rent the network to IPS’s which mayor provider is currently owned by TELMEX who makes a shit loads of money by being a monopoly and using fixed telephone lines.
Supposing, that a brave company took the challenge of creating a business out of those 50 million poor, it could easily provide with wi-max access to all communities that have electricity, which is not 100% but that would make a considerable difference.
Never the less I prefer second option, create a non-profit ISP or government owned ISP (as long they don’t privatise it to create another monopoly that funds the worlds third richest man) to provide low-cost/ free access the the web.
Mexico has everything needed to provide everyone with internet connections, and probably levering digital divide (hardware and relevant content) is a easier challenge, unfortunately our politicians ignore, (or choose to) these options and always end up implementing the solutions in which they will be able to make money. Corruption vs Ignorance, you choose, in power they are both a way to steal from the people.
pd.
I really think that a non-profit ISP that rents Electric Network is the solution for the core of rural digital divide in Mexico.
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Meanwhile in India
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has plans to Gabriel Kent Says:
March 28th, 2007 at 3:29 am
Cheap wireless ad-hoc communication nodes — they can be dropped faster than they can be found and destroyed. Open source plans can be distributed, while the components can be found online.
DIY Mesh ISP.
I have been watching xG (http://www.xgtechnology.com/about.asp) for the last few years and am still waiting to see some real movement. Their tech would be perfect for this…if it works as advertised.
However, there is still the issue of who owns the trunks running into the regions…unfortunatley having to circumvent the trunks wirelessly dramatically increases the scope of the project.
Thats a lot of pringle cans and solar-powered UAVs
Seriously though, this can be achieved in many ways — the tech exists but does the will of the people exist to make access to information and communication a right? Is this right even acknowledged?
Demand is growing to be sure…but the only way to defeat tight-fisted monopolies is by tickling their soft spots…and in this case it appears those soft spots are their future market segments, the largest of which (residential/SOHO/small businesses) still has a lot of growing to do.
A growing consumer-made ISP however may help to inflict competition into the marketplace and hence cause the grips to loosen.
It comes down to the foresight of the people to perceive a right even before they are ready to realize it in a truly meaningful way.