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Developing Nations Crippled By Broadband Costs

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the holy-crip-it's-a-crapple dept.

eldavojohn writes "If you live in the EU, you probably enjoy low broadband costs. If you live in Finland, it's even a legal right. If you live in the US, you probably pay a moderate cost. But if you live in the developing world, a UNCTAD report paints your picture pretty grim. Ridiculously high bandwidth costs are inhibiting developing nations from enjoying productive use of the internet — like online banking and market tools."

3 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. 'cause what the developing world desperately needs by nuckfuts · · Score: 3, Interesting

    is online banking.

  2. Re:Development crippled by what? by vertinox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Broadband access, of course. I'd imagine that narrowly edged out security, stability, access to medical care, and clean drinking water.

    Strangely enough, Somalia is touted to have one of the most advanced telecommunications industry in Africa.

    Apparently when there is no corrupt government (or any government worth mentioning) or regulatory body (FCC) then people just put up their own cell phone towers and wireless networks with little regard to the previous system.

    Of course during the anarchy most of the copper why was torn down and sold as scrap by looters so wireless was the only alternative and many of the warlords and pirates were keen on having cell phone access to speak with people internationally so they had some high bankroll early adopters.

    That said... Between the angry warlords and Islamic militias... I wouldn't move there for the wireless and broad band systems.

    --
    "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
    -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
  3. Don't have banking? News to me. by quietwalker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I write software for banks for a living. Web, mobile, voice, atm, teller, whatever. As far as my industry has indicated, these developing nations rely on cell phones for the majority of their banking, and anyone with enough money to care about banking will likely use a cell phone for that purpose - at least for common daily usage. There are people out there who have to rely on a hand-crank generator or pay a vendor to charge their phone - they have no access to electricity, but you'll note, they STILL have a cell phone.

    Even in developing nations, cell phones are incredibly pervasive.