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Google Invests In Broadband For Poorer Countries

Posted by Soulskill on from the first-one's-free dept.

Chris Wilson writes "According to the Financial Times, Google has announced their support for a new initiative called O3B to 'bring internet access to 3bn people in Africa and other emerging markets by launching at least 16 satellites to bring its services to the unconnected' by 2010. Coverage is available from Yahoo and the Wall Street Journal as well. 'The $750m project to connect mobile masts in a swath of countries within 45 degrees of the equator to fast broadband networks ... could bring the cost of bandwidth in such markets down by 95 per cent.' This will probably be the largest single investment in network infrastructure for developing countries in history. Google clearly wishes to use this project to enable broadband Internet access in developing regions, but many other things must be in place before that can happen, including fixed power infrastructure, PCs or OLPCs, technical support and skills, and useful content and services for areas with lower literacy."

2 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Because There's Profit To Be Had by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Google's going to bring these people broadband at 95% of their current price

    Ehmm... TFA talks about "bring the cost of bandwidth in such markets down by 95 per cent". Doesn't that mean: take 95% off, leave 5% (1/20 th) of previous cost?

  2. Re:Because There's Profit To Be Had by mtairhead · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Of course, you're wrong. Besides the fact that there are plenty of people who can read and afford computers, you make no mention of the #1 driver for economic and improvement: business!

    Why plop down a warehouse or plant in a nation with no dependable way of communicating with it? Access to the Internet will attract business, which will create jobs and bring an influx of money.

    Further, PCs aren't the only things that can benefit humanity with access to the Internet. You're thinking inside the box. Developing nations have solved many problems without our confined 1st World ideas. I don't believe you need to sit an Tanzanian in front of Wikipedia to call the Inet an African success story. Creative uses will come from uncommon and unexpected corners, just as they always have. This is just one more tool, and one from which Google /will/ profit.

    PS - Once you're in the position to call $3 billion dollar shots like these, I don't call you an accountant anymore. You're management.