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Drive-By Internet In Hard-To-Reach Places

oldwindways writes "The BBC reports that in developing nations where it is prohibitively expensive to install the infrastructure for wired internet connections, drive by wireless updates are becoming a popular solution to the demand for internet access. This sounds great for checking news updates, sports scores, and visiting your regular websites, but somewhat limited if you are trying to do basic research and don't know exactly where your search will take you. It is certainly an innovative solution to some of the problems encountered in tackling the digital divide, but what longterm effects might this model have on the development of a communications infrastructure?"

4 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. that, and more! by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Buses equipped with wi-fi are being used to deliver web content to remote rural villages in the developing world.

    They have wi-fi equipped buses in this country too. Actually, since PCI is a standard, you can equip it with a lot more than just that.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Bandwidth by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do not underestimate the bandwidth of a bus capable of carrying the entire internet.

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    liqbase :: faster than paper
  3. Re:Sports scores? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 4, Insightful

    2 words, Customer demand.
    They provide a service customers want.

    Newspapers give a wide selection of articles because people are interested in different things, this service is just the same.
    It says most users cannot read English, so the driver shows them and translates for them.

    No wasted paper and a nice scalable infrastructure.
    I wouldn't be surprised if this kind of service doesn't take off, there could be franchises all around.
    Wouldn't be long term, but it would make money.

    Congrats to the guy who put it together.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  4. Re:It's not just the installation by SleepyHappyDoc · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can't steal the ether.

    Tell that to the junkie who broke into my dentist's office.

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    Stasis is death. Embrace change.