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UN Tech Group Finds Most Expensive Broadband
destinyland writes "In the Central African Republic, broadband internet service costs 3891% of the average monthly income. 'Put another way, a month's broadband service costs more than three years' average wages in the country,' notes one technology blog, 'compared with less than two hours' earnings in Macau.' A United Nations' technology group released the figures in a new report in advance of a September 19 summit on the digital divide in developing countries. ('We are trying to avoid a broadband divide,' said Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the secretary general of the UN's International Telecommunications Union.) Their agency noted that the rate for broadband penetration is below 1% in many poor countries, with monthly costs higher than the average monthly income. 'By contrast,' notes the BBC, 'in the world's most developed economies, around 30% of people have access to broadband at a cost of less than 1% of their income.' And the report also estimates that there are 5 billion cellphones in the world — though some people may own more than one."
"And the report also estimates that there are 5 billion cellphones in the world — though some people may own more than one."
Yeah -- I'm pretty sure that worldwide ownership rate of cell phones is somewhat less than 73%.
Yeah, the number of humans who are dead and gone now without a cell phone brings it down some.
But without the internet, how will they know what nerds think about political issues?
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
If you also factor in the illiteracy rate, it becomes even less of a priority.
The literate can get by with unicode. The illiterate need h.264.
I'm sure he doesn't mind buying _a_ TV for all Americans.
;).
Teaching them how to share better is the hard part
Sharing is for commies, he'd never get it past your other party.
"Welcome to our world. We are the wasted youth. And we are the future too." Yes, I know these are stupid lyrics.
Just how much is a freakin' broadband connection going to help them?
Ahemm, not at all. The UN is a political body setting the focus of westerner's attention so that people don't find out the truth.
Do you think that the members of the UN are stupid or something?