CIS 427

IS Plan/Mgmt | DSU Spr’09

Web spreads throughout developing countries profitless

According to the New York Times the web is rapidly growing in many developing countries. And while this sounds good, if you are a fan of globalization, the problem is that it is profitless, or nearly profitless. The cost to broadcast to these areas is high and there are very low results from advertisements and other sales attempts. Web companies are contemplating what to do and some have even blocked traffic to these areas. The Internet has always been thought of this wonder that connects the world but now even the idealists are seeing that this is tougher than originally thought. It seems like someone is going to have to develop some infrastructure in this country almost as a charity so that the ideas of these countries can be seen. I highly doubt these countries will just be isolated from the rest of the world.

THE ARTICLE

2009.04.27 - Posted by | Uncategorized

2 Comments »

  1. Interesting that the problem appears to be that international users just aren’t silly enough to click on online ads yet. Either we need to brainwash them into being better consumers (yikes), or the Internet companies need to find a new business model. Or maybe we need to look at a global Internet equivalent of the Rural Electrification Administration the brough power to remote places like South Dakota in the 1930s–1950s. Hmm… Internet co-ops across India and Mozambique?

    I am torn: the idea that you only get Internet if you have enough income to make you attractive to advertisers is distressing. Is this an unavoidable market reality, or can we find a way to fix it?

    But part of the problem is high-bandwidth operators like YouTube. Maybe folks in poorer countries won’t be able to get streaming HD video… but we can still make sure they get access to vital textual information about government, public health, education, etc.

    Comment by CA Heidelberger | 2009.04.28

  2. If enough infrastructure was in place for electricity and telephone communication (both relatively old technology) then it would be enough for the web. Maybe not enough bandwidth for broadband, but enough. It would be interesting to see what areas exactly they are talking about.

    Comment by codycos | 2009.05.04


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