As we enter the digital age the ability to use the internet becomes fundamental to interacting with the world, socially, politically, and economically. Yet according to statistics from the International Telecommunications Union, still over half the worlds population does not have access to the internet. Economists have shown a clear positive relationship between internet access and economic growth. The internet allows people the opportunity to gain a vast array of information about their world, which has positive social implications connected to education and democracy. Tech companies such as Facebook
As we enter the digital age the ability to use the internet becomes fundamental to interacting with the world, socially, politically, and economically. Yet according to statistics from the International Telecommunications Union, still over half the worlds population does not have access to the internet. Economists have shown a clear positive relationship between internet access and economic growth. The internet allows people the opportunity to gain a vast array of information about their world, which has positive social implications connected to education and democracy. Tech companies such as Facebook
Facebook in 2013 launched the Internet.org initiative which is a partnership between the social media giant and various telecommunications companies such as Samsung and Nokia to provide free but limited internet access to people in the developing world. Users of Internet.org services would be able would gain access only to a relatively small number of websites, including Facebook. The initiative has been successfully implemented in dozens of countries in Asia and Africa, including countries with large and rapidly growing populations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. While the effort has expanded the number of Facebook users by millions and therefore benefited the companies stock, it has proved controversial.
Facebook in 2013 launched the Internet.org initiative which is a partnership between the social media giant and various telecommunications companies such as Samsung and Nokia to provide free but limited internet access to people in the developing world. Users of Internet.org services would be able would gain access only to a relatively small number of websites, including Facebook. The initiative has been successfully implemented in dozens of countries in Asia and Africa, including countries with large and rapidly growing populations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. While the effort has expanded the number of Facebook users by millions and therefore benefited the companies stock, it has proved controversial.
India has the second highest number of internet users in the world and is projected to have the world's highest population in coming decades, making it a valuable target for tech companies seeking to expand their number of users.In India though Facebook was forced to withdraw its Internet.org in February initiative after objections from the public led to the government passing a law banning the initiative- sending Facebook stocks stumbling, though prices have since recovered. Critics in India said the initiative violated the principles of net neutrality-the idea that broadband service providers should not be able to discriminate which websites internet users can see and effectively use.
Populations across the world have proven resistant to efforts by companies to compromise net neutrality. After significant public outcry in the United States the Federal government classified internet as a public utility, therefore making net neutrality law. Because of the public's support of net neutrality, it seems companies wishing to expand internet access might best serve themselves by providing unfettered internet access to unconnected populations.
India has the second highest number of internet users in the world and is projected to have the world's highest population in coming decades, making it a valuable target for tech companies seeking to expand their number of users.In India though Facebook was forced to withdraw its Internet.org in February initiative after objections from the public led to the government passing a law banning the initiative- sending Facebook stocks stumbling, though prices have since recovered. Critics in India said the initiative violated the principles of net neutrality-the idea that broadband service providers should not be able to discriminate which websites internet users can see and effectively use.
Populations across the world have proven resistant to efforts by companies to compromise net neutrality. After significant public outcry in the United States the Federal government classified internet as a public utility, therefore making net neutrality law. Because of the public's support of net neutrality, it seems companies wishing to expand internet access might best serve themselves by providing unfettered internet access to unconnected populations.
Project Loon, launched by Google in 2013, seeks to expand internet access through a system of hot air balloons. The idea of the project is that by providing internet access this way Google will be able to connect people in underdeveloped countries which cannot afford to lay fiber optic cable. Unlike internet.org Project Loon provides full internet access. But because the technology has not been perfected, internet through Project Loon is relatively slow. Project Loon is still in its experimental phase-it is not providing vast numbers of users with internet access yet and the balloons often crash. This means so far that the project has had little effect on Google share prices.
Project Loon, launched by Google in 2013, seeks to expand internet access through a system of hot air balloons. The idea of the project is that by providing internet access this way Google will be able to connect people in underdeveloped countries which cannot afford to lay fiber optic cable. Unlike internet.org Project Loon provides full internet access. But because the technology has not been perfected, internet through Project Loon is relatively slow. Project Loon is still in its experimental phase-it is not providing vast numbers of users with internet access yet and the balloons often crash. This means so far that the project has had little effect on Google share prices.
In 2014 Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a company which manufactures solar powered drones it says can fly for nearly five years without landing and which could be used to provide internet access to populations in underdeveloped nations. While exciting, this technology remains unproven (no one knows if the drones can really fly as long as Titan says they can) and poses similar problems to Project Loon-slow internet speeds and potential for accidents. Google also says it is working with telecommunications companies to provide internet access and Google services in Cuba as the American embargo to the Island Nation ends.
In 2014 Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a company which manufactures solar powered drones it says can fly for nearly five years without landing and which could be used to provide internet access to populations in underdeveloped nations. While exciting, this technology remains unproven (no one knows if the drones can really fly as long as Titan says they can) and poses similar problems to Project Loon-slow internet speeds and potential for accidents. Google also says it is working with telecommunications companies to provide internet access and Google services in Cuba as the American embargo to the Island Nation ends.
Tech companies have spent vast sums of money to expand internet access in developing countries in their endless quest to increase their number of users. Yet half the world remains without internet access, meaning vast amounts of work still has to be done to get everyone in the world online. This also means there are still massive opportunities for companies to expand their number of users by providing them with internet access. But tech companies will have to do more than just give people internet access-the ones that will be most successful in the developing world will be ones that can make new products and services that these new users derive value from. As the number of people online grows, so will the overall global economy and the opportunities for tech companies to profit from the already lucrative opportunities provided by the internet.
Tech companies have spent vast sums of money to expand internet access in developing countries in their endless quest to increase their number of users. Yet half the world remains without internet access, meaning vast amounts of work still has to be done to get everyone in the world online. This also means there are still massive opportunities for companies to expand their number of users by providing them with internet access. But tech companies will have to do more than just give people internet access-the ones that will be most successful in the developing world will be ones that can make new products and services that these new users derive value from. As the number of people online grows, so will the overall global economy and the opportunities for tech companies to profit from the already lucrative opportunities provided by the internet.
