Digital divide

In this task we are speculating around the issue of digital divide: traditionally it has meant the gap between people who have access to the Internet and those who don’t. These days it can also mean the gap between broadband users and slower connections, since networks services are developed towards heavier bandwidth usage.

The problem is more obvious in a developing part of our world. In places like Ukraine, Russia, African countries Internet access is still considered to be a privilege rather than a basic need. Especially in rural areas getting stable connection to Internet is practically impossible. Also, corrupted governments benefit to the fact that companies have no regulations on providing Internet connection. Pavlo has experience in dealing with ISPs which offer very little for big prices. In Ukraine getting 3G connection will lower your budget by €20-30 a month and in some cases Internet works practically 1-2 hours a day, and during night, because of high load of users compared to the network capability. When the users complain to their provider they get replies like: “We do not know anything. It must a problem on your side”. Getting a wired connection can be even more expensive since usually they are offered by monopolies in that sector that regulate prices on their own.

Aforementioned problems that people face in the developing part of our world also mean that companies operating in eBusiness face tough challenges in their operations and their services are often limited to people living in one or two cities in the whole country.

Fortunately, world organizations such as UNICEF realize a problem of digital divide and they offer their help to especially such unprotected groups of people like children in Africa. In 2006 a program  “One Laptop Per Child”, which goal was providing laptops for schools for free, took place. MIT developed a laptop which was capable of running powered by solar energy, which is in plenty in Africa. Its cost was only $100. Also, another program from is being thought over in Canada. AHumanRight.org, organization that is doing research on means of providing free basic Internet access to developing countries like those in Africa, is thinking about buying TerreStar-1 satellite (satellite of TerreStar company making satellite telecommunications) and reconfiguring it to establish that service for poor countries. It can virtually remove digital divide in the part of the world where this issue (building the backbone network for the users) is at its strongest. Of course, other problems will still take place, like the prices of computers.

When considering it from the current digital divide in the Western world (broadband vs <256kBps), the problem is very clear. If the customer is living inside city limits, it is usually very easy to get a broadband connection with decent costs in installation and upkeep. But when one is located some ways outside of city limits, the available connection speeds drop and prices rise. For example in the US, getting a wired broadband connection might be completely impossible, and the user has to rely on 3/4G networks. Then problems like connection throughput and stability start to rise.

In our opinion, Internet access should be a right for every person living in the Western world. Whether the consumers should have broadband or narrowband connections is not that big issue. The key point should be that there is a stable connection working when it is needed and the pricing is not ridiculous when compared to average salaries and costs of life. Third world would greatly benefit from having the same situation, but the problems there are far greater than merely the lack of broadband (no electricity, possible ongoing warfare, language barriers etc), but as the situation improves, they should try to focus on getting this possibility to their inhabitants. Internet does remove or reduce the need for regular mail, old phone line connections, and help in educating and civilizing people.