Our policies and alliances bring broadband meaningfully to the “forgotten five billion."
News Wrap, October 20th 2011
TABLET-FOR-SCHOOLS MARKET GETS CROWDED: AAakash, the new name for India’s Sakshat tablet designed for the education market, is now being joined by many similar low cost device projects in Asia. One standout is the I-slate, a joint venture of Nanyang Technology University in Singapore and Rice University, undergoing beta test in India. Some consider it a more reliable alternative compared to Aakash with a lower total cost of ownership. Before jumping onto the Aakash bandwagon, governments and investors should consider what caused the disappointing performance of MIT Media Lab’s One Laptop Per Child project. The lessons learned from the demise of OLPC were analyzed in this insightful article from onebillion.net, which is one of DDI’s favorite sites. Another cautionary tale from another industry is India’s Tata Nono, billed as the world’s cheapest car. A similar fate could beset Aakash…..Plus, watch out India! We hear that Chinese-made devices, priced at under $50 are preparing to flood into India from the North.
CHECK OUT FCC’S NEW SITE: Dozens of nations now have formal broadband policies, which begin with an effort to create web sites that communicate to citizens the meaning and importance of broadband for citizens. The best of these web sites is from the USA: the Federal Communications Commission’s site. It is a great example of Government 2.0, designed to elicit responses from citizens.
BIG DATA COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: McKinsey researchers, looking at the explosion of user data in the wake of the mobile revolution, are wondering how it could be tapped to reinvent local economic development projects in emerging markets.
AMAZON AND EBAY LOOK SOUTH: You heard it here first: Amazon and Ebay are both preparing for a future tied to their access to the “next two-billion in emerging markets”. The news from developer conferences of both companies held recently is this: eBAY will seek success with rural consumers in developing nations by introducing these users to social networking. Ebay’s plans call for extending the reach of PayPal, ino remote corners of the globe. ts payment system does not require credit cards. Amazon, on the other hand, will capitalize on consumer mania for cheap smart phones in emerging markets by emphasizing the sales of discounted smart gadgets on its site.
Previous News Wrap:
September 20, 2011: Wanting to deploy tablets, Asian nations face a sensitive political issue…..IPAD is on top but maybe not for long…..Intel pushes smart grid into Wimax strategy in China…..Will Smart Grid be the key to bringing broadband to remote locations with little electricity?…..EBay activates new approaches to poverty reduction…..FCC’s gives parents more control over the internet….. For these stories, go inside.
October 04, 2011: Nokia innovates for its Low End customers…..New internet speed rankings is bad news for the poor…..If Jack Ma gets Yahoo!…..Google may have the killer app for unbanked Asians…..But Google disappoints in ASEAN…..Advice for HP’s new CEO…..For these stories, go inside.
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News Wrap |
Broadband You Tube Channel : Yes, there is a channel devoted to broadband-for-all. International Telecommunications Union's Broadband Commission’s videos can be seen here. The Channel was recently filled with fresh content from big thinkers expounding on innovations in technology and public policy needed to bring broadband meaningfully to all seven billion users. One of DDI’s favorite broadband gurus whose views are in the mix is Robert Pepperwho heads public affairs for Cisco Systems in Washington. Check out his views about the need to release of 700 megahertz spectrum, once meant for local TV stations, to produce a “digital dividend” that can lower costs and boost quality of broadband content delivered to the masses. And, while you are at it, check out Pepper’s recent talk at the Barcelona blowout. ” -- Craig Warren Smith |
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What is digitaldivide.org |
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Events |
March 9, Bangkok, DDI Chairman Craig Warren Smith speaks at UNESCAP Expert Group seminar on Asian Economic Integration.
April 23, Bandung, Digital Divide Institute launches Indonesia Meaningful Broadband Research Group at Institute of Technology Bandung.
May 3, Jakarta, DDI Chairman Craig Warren Smith moderates "Asia Pacific Infrastructure Conference," ICT Track.
“Pay or play” is a good regulatory formula. Telecom companies that “play” (e.g. introduce meaningful services for low-income users) should be preferred by regulators. If they don’t, they should be made to “pay,” in the form of higher taxes and other penalties.
