Paper Summary
Source: arXiv
Authors: Edward J. Oughton et al.
Published Date: 2023-10-06
Podcast Transcript
Hello, and welcome to paper-to-podcast, where we turn the complex world of academic papers into digestible, and dare we say, entertaining podcast episodes. Today, we're diving deep into the digital divide, and asking the question: "Just how much would it cost to give everyone in the world internet access?"
Edward J. Oughton and colleagues have attempted to answer this question in their research paper, "What would it cost to connect the unconnected? Estimating global universal broadband infrastructure investment," published on 6th October 2023. The answer, my friends, might make you gasp, or it might make you laugh, or it might just make you check under your couch cushions for spare change. Because, folks, we're looking at a cool $418 billion to connect the approximately 3 billion people who still lack internet access.
Now, that sounds like a lot, but before you start hyperventilating into a paper bag, remember that this is only about 0.45% of the global Gross Domestic Product. In layman's terms, it's less than half a penny out of a dollar. And most of this cost, around 73%, would go to emerging market economies, with about a quarter, or 24%, to developing countries with low incomes.
Now, how did the researchers arrive at this number? They used a high-resolution global model, taking into account various factors such as data consumption and Quality of Service. The model suggested using 4G cellular technology as the primary mode of connectivity, with satellite broadband as a backup option for remote areas. The model also considered factors such as necessary user skills, effective policy design, and broadband regulations.
The strengths of this research lie in the detailed, granular understanding of the issue provided by the high-resolution global model. It also introduces a geospatial method capable of estimating local universal broadband investment costs for each country, which is pretty groundbreaking stuff!
But every silver lining has a cloud, and this research also has some limitations. For one, it doesn't address how well different countries can manage public investment and capital spending. Also, the study's global scope means that some country-specific details may have been overlooked. And let's not forget that the model is deductive, meaning the results depend on the accuracy of the set premises.
So, what can we do with this research? It could be used by policymakers, internet service providers, and international organizations to strategize necessary investments for providing universal broadband connectivity. It could also influence the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and be used to develop educational programs promoting digital literacy.
So there you have it, folks—$418 billion to connect the unconnected. It's a big number, but when you think about the potential benefits—like advancing education and promoting innovation—it doesn't seem so astronomical after all.
You can find this paper and more on the paper2podcast.com website. Thanks for tuning in, and remember, the internet is for everyone, and together, we can make it happen!
Supporting Analysis
You know how about 40% of the world's population still doesn't have internet access? Well, this research looked into how much it would cost to get everyone connected. Buckle up, because the price tag is a whopping $418 billion! Now, that might sound like a lot (because it is), but when you compare it to the total value of all goods and services produced in the world (the global Gross Domestic Product), it's only about 0.45%. So, it's kind of like spending less than half a penny out of a dollar. Most of this cost (73%) would go to emerging market economies, and about a quarter (24%) to developing countries with low incomes. The study used a really detailed model to estimate these costs, and it's the first of its kind to do this for the whole world. They suggest using 4G cellular technology as the main way to provide internet access, with satellite broadband as a backup option. So, anyone got a spare $418 billion lying around?
This research paper focuses on estimating the cost to provide internet connectivity to the approximately 3 billion people globally who currently lack access. To achieve this, the researchers use a high-resolution global model to quantify the investment needed to provide affordable universal broadband. The model takes into consideration various factors like data consumption and Quality of Service (QoS). The approach combines geospatial methods and the grouping of local statistical areas into deciles based on population density to estimate local universal broadband investment costs. This data is then aggregated to allow cross-country comparisons. The primary mode of connectivity considered in the model is 4G cellular technology, with satellite broadband reserved as a last resort for remote areas. The model also considers the necessary skills and content for end users and designing effective policies and broadband regulations to achieve universal broadband access.
The researchers' use of a high-resolution global model to evaluate the necessary investment requirements for universal broadband is particularly compelling. This method allows them to make detailed, sub-national estimations, providing a granular understanding of the issue. They also make a significant contribution by addressing the question of how much investment is necessary to achieve affordable universal connectivity. They introduce a geospatial method capable of estimating local universal broadband investment costs for each country, which is a novel and insightful approach. As for best practices, the researchers made sure to consider multiple aspects of the issue, ranging from infrastructure needs to user skills and regulatory frameworks. They also placed their study within the broader context of the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the real-world implications of their work. The methodical approach, the use of globally harmonized datasets for model inputs, and the clear delineation of the paper's contributions to the existing literature all reflect high standards of academic research.
The research has a few potential limitations. First, the degree to which countries can implement and manage public investment and capital spending, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, is a major factor affecting investment in universal broadband infrastructure. This factor was not addressed in the research. Second, due to the global scope of the study, it had to sacrifice some country-specific details. The research relied on globally harmonized datasets as model inputs, which may not capture the nuance of country-specific data. This means that the unique circumstances of specific countries might have been overlooked. Finally, the techno-economic model developed in the research is deductive. While this provides decision-support insight, it contrasts with the inductive approach often utilized when using observational statistical data. So, the results can only be true if the set premises are accurate, which is a key limitation of the deductive approach.
This research can be used by policymakers, internet service providers, and international organizations to strategize the necessary investments for providing universal broadband connectivity. The model developed in this study can guide the allocation of funds, especially in emerging market economies and low-income developing countries, where the need is highest. Moreover, the findings could influence the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9, which emphasizes the importance of infrastructure and innovation. The research could further be used to develop educational programs that address digital literacy, thus promoting more inclusive internet adoption. Finally, entities focused on environmental sustainability might also benefit from this study, as greater broadband access can support 'smart' management of various sectors, potentially reducing carbon emissions.