On August 30, according to foreign media BuzzFeed, nearly four billion people worldwide still lack access to the internet, and major tech giants in Silicon Valley are working hard to address this issue. How far have they come?
The majority of this offline population resides in twenty countries, which account for three-quarters of the world's total of 4.3 billion unconnected individuals. Today, our world boasts unprecedented levels of internet coverage. Google proudly announced that its Android mobile operating system now has over two billion users, while Facebook recently reported that its monthly active users have reached the same milestone. Despite this progress, however, four billion people across the globe remain without internet access. The situation is particularly dire in Africa and South Asia, where internet penetration rates are among the lowest. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, has one of the world's lowest rates, with only 3.8% of its population online.
Twenty countries account for three-quarters of the world’s 4.3 billion untouched population
Not surprisingly, prominent tech companies like Google, Facebook, and SpaceX, along with startups, are all vying to connect the rest of the world. While their motivations aren’t purely altruistic, these ambitious ventures aim to serve a dual purpose: enhancing corporate reputations while seeking out new markets of potentially billions of potential users who could benefit from their services.
The “Last Mile†Problem in Connectivity
This mission to expand internet access could profoundly affect rural areas and underserved regions. For cellular network providers, investing in costly infrastructure to serve sparse populations who might not afford internet access presents a poor return on investment. The importance of broadband isn't merely about enabling more people to use apps like Snapchat. It holds transformative potential, influencing job opportunities, education, and access to vital information. As Nicol Turner-Lee, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Technology Innovation Center, noted, historically, investing in these areas hasn't been the most lucrative choice. Private companies are reluctant to build digital infrastructure in many developing countries, leaving governments to step in—though this occurs more frequently in wealthier nations.
The process of delivering something to you over the Internet involves a network of connected cables, data centers, and base stations.
When streaming a show like “Game of Thrones,†the final leg of delivery relies on your internet service provider (ISP), such as AT&T, Verizon, or Comcast, reaching the base station. Alternatively, your home router’s fiber optic cable transmits the video directly. This final step—connecting the ISP to the end-user—is particularly costly in sparsely populated areas. Yet, tech companies are innovating solutions to overcome this challenge.
Mega-companies’ Progress
Elon Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX, envisions using thousands of orbiting satellites (initially proposing around 4,425) to blanket the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a global communications network. These satellites would transmit data to ground devices. However, SpaceX’s first satellites won’t launch until 2019. OneWeb, Musk’s primary competitor, also plans a similar satellite network to provide LTE services globally, aiming for a 2019 launch.
Facebook, the social networking giant, has also developed a satellite to bring connectivity to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In September 2016, Facebook’s satellite was lost when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket exploded.
Facebook’s Aquila drone
Facebook has another initiative: building solar-powered autonomous drones to deliver network coverage. Named Aquila, this drone has a wingspan wider than a Boeing 737. The plan is to deploy a fleet of high-altitude drones communicating via lasers, capable of staying airborne for months at a time. Aquila aims to broadcast wireless signals to people within a 60-mile radius. Although ambitious, the goal of 90-day flights at high altitudes remains distant. In June, the drone managed just over an hour and 46 minutes of flight time.
Project Loon's nitrogen balloons floating in the air
Compared to Aquila, Google’s Project Loon, part of its “Moonshot Factory†X (formerly Google X), is closer to achieving its goals. Unlike Aquila, Project Loon uses nitrogen-filled balloons floating in the stratosphere to deliver internet access. The project's longest flight lasted 190 days. Although still in testing, Loon’s balloons have already provided connectivity to tens of thousands of people in Peru. In February, Loon announced advancements in machine-learning navigation algorithms, allowing smaller groups of balloons to target specific regions, drastically cutting operational costs.
However, challenges persist. Project Loon has faced setbacks, including losing a key patent related to balloon navigation due to a lawsuit from Space Data. Nonetheless, Google has heavily invested in Loon, establishing facilities in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, and Winemucca, Nevada, with up to 20 balloons deployed at any given time. They’ve also built “autolaunchers†and balloon recovery teams globally, and maintain several labs at their Mountain View headquarters. One lab houses “Billie Jean,†the world’s largest desktop scanner, aiding engineers in monitoring balloon plastic pressure and elasticity.
Resistance Ahead
Physical infrastructure isn’t the sole obstacle to expanding internet access. Affordability, literacy levels, and localized content creation are equally critical. Moreover, drones, balloons, and thousands of satellites may fail to bridge the digital divide in regions facing more pressing issues like water scarcity, electricity, and schooling. As Dr. Turner-Lee pointed out, "For these companies, the real challenge will be to reach areas lacking basic necessities like running water, electricity, or regular schools."
Although these initiatives sound promising, their effectiveness remains uncertain. Past controversies, such as Facebook’s Free Basics project in India, highlight the complexities of gaining government approval and cooperation with telecom providers. How will local governments and telecoms respond to Google’s and Facebook’s aerial networks or SpaceX’s satellite internet? Until Loon, Aquila, and Musk’s space internet ventures fully deploy, their impact on global connectivity remains unclear.
(Lebang)
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