The Internet Is U-Shaped
When we think about the problem of achieving affordable access to the Internet for all, the discussion often focuses on broadband targets. These targets are moving goalposts as infrastructure improves. Broadband used to be defined at 256Kbps, now it might be...
Failure to TED
Recently a bot informed me that it was the 2 year anniversary of my speaking at TED Global 2014. And that reminded me of what I have been putting off writing for a while, putting off well, because I find it...
How to Lower Costs on State-Owned Fibre Networks in Africa
TLDR; Create a vehicle for smaller operators to become part-owners of state-owned fibre backhaul networks “It costs more to get data to the coast than it does to get it the rest of the way to Europe!” Since the arrival...
AfTerFibre 2016
It is now nearly five years since I first dreamt of a public map of African terrestrial fibre projects. Inspired by the popularity of the map of African Undersea Cables, it seemed a natural next step as investment in terrestrial networks...
Resolving the Free Basics Paradox
Today the Indian communication regulator announced that it would forbid the provision of differential pricing for data services on the basis of content. This decision effectively bans Facebook’s Free Basics initiative which offers access to Facebook and a suite of other content...