Broadband has brought the internet and its users a very long way in recent years. Not only has it helped bridge the divide between people in different countries for both business and pleasure, it has helped others to achieve freedom from oppression.
With the rise of superfast broadband gaining traction rapidly, the world is only set to become an even smaller place in years to come. This is illustrated perfectly by the quiet revolution which is taking place in Tanzania; the country has built a fibre optic network in a circular pattern around the country, so that it will soon be possible for even remote villages to get superfast broadband.
Whilst the take-up of the service hasn’t yet really kicked in, it’s thought that it will eventually as villagers already use mobile broadband to carry out tasks such as checking prices before taking their farm produce to market.
Tanzania eventually hopes to rival neighbours Kenya, who have built a smaller network but are already considered the network hub of East Africa.
Of course, not everyone in the country will have the means to connect, but the Tanzanian government are hoping that those who show entrepreneurial spirit when adopting the technology will help to boost the country’s economy and allow them to pay off their debt to China, who lent Tanzania the money to build the network, and then allow even those on very poor incomes to connect.
Socially important
The Broadband Commission believes that having a broadband connection is an essential part of modern society and that a new internet economy is taking place which will revolutionise the worldwide economy by 2020.
Whilst it may seem idealist to think that even tribes in the Amazon Rainforest could benefit from broadband, the Tanzanian efforts outlined above suggest otherwise. The sheer speed of superfast broadband means that people across the world can share information instantly, can watch movies and TV shows on live streaming and can video–phone friends and family around the world with ease.
Of course, whilst this paints an almost utopian picture of the connected world of the future, there will be downsides as well.
The internet is empowering to common people and so this means that governments are more likely to engage in some form of censorship, whichever country you live in. In the EU and the US (for the most part) this is illustrated in the drive to stop illegal downloads and new laws that allow authorities to snoop on its citizens.
Another downside is the rise in malware, a business which is already worth more than the global illegal drugs trade. This affects normal citizens and governments alike, people find themselves out of pocket after being infected with a trojan that empties their bank account, whilst governments practice cyber-espionage.
So, what’s the future of broadband? A faster, more connected world which allows unprecedented levels of speed so that entertainment and family is easily accessible to all, marred slightly by cybercrooks and governments, but for the most part, empowering people the world over.
Author Bio: Kerry Butters writes this article on behalf of Broadband Genie, a consumer site for broadband, smartphones and tablets.
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