Copy of Country without internet access = Poor and dangerous country for its citizens

Index:

1. Data on the number of fibre optic connections per inhabitant in the most developed countries.
2. Data on the number of fibre optic connections per inhabitant in less developed countries.
3. The gap between developed and non-developed countries and the speed at which this gap is widening.
4. Possible consequences of some countries not developing their telecommunications networks at the same time as the rest of the world.
5. Importance of 5G.
6. Importance of fibre optics.
7. Initiatives to prevent more countries from being left behind in telecommunications infrastructure.
8. Satellite connection alternatives.
9. Case study: The island of St. Helena.

In more developed countries, fibre optic penetration varies significantly. Some of the data may not be up to date correctly:

• Europe: Spain: Leads with 83% of broadband connections through fibre optics. France: Approximately 31% of households have access to fibre optics. United Kingdom: Around 30% of households are connected to fibre optics. Germany: Only 9.17% of fixed internet connections are fibre optic. Greece: Only 0.44% of connections are fibre optic.
• North America: United States: It has a fibre optic penetration of 63% in its fixed broadband connections. Canada: Fibre optic penetration is 45%.
• Central America: Costa Rica: Approximately 51% of fixed broadband connections are fibre optics. Panama: Fibre optic penetration is 30%.
• South America: Chile: It leads the region with 66.05% of fixed broadband connections through fibre optics. Brazil: It has a fibre optic penetration of 54%. Colombia: Approximately 28% of fixed broadband connections are fibre optics.

These data show a clear disparity in fibre optic adoption, even among the most developed countries, underscoring the importance of continuing to invest in telecommunications infrastructure to close the digital divide.

The digital divide between developed and undeveloped countries continues to grow. Here are some examples of countries with less developed telecommunications infrastructure, low connection speeds, and limited internet access:

• Bolivia: Only 40% of the population has access to the internet, and the average connection speed is approximately 1.8 Mbps.
• Honduras: Less than 30% of the population has access to the internet, with average speeds of around 2 Mbps.
• Nicaragua: Internet penetration is low, with only 25% of the population connected and average speeds of 2.5 Mbps.
• Yemen: The average connection speed is 0.68 Mbps, one of the lowest in the world.
• Ethiopia: The average connection speed is 1.2 Mbps, and only 20% of the population has access to the internet.
• Venezuela: The average connection speed is 1.5 Mbps, with an internet penetration of approximately 40%.

These countries face significant challenges in improving their telecommunications infrastructures due to a lack of investment, resources, and adequate policies. The digital divide is widening rapidly, exacerbating economic and social inequalities between developed and non-developed countries.

Lack of development in telecommunications networks can have serious consequences. Countries that fail to modernize their infrastructure may face limited economic growth, lower global competitiveness, and a growing gap in education and access to information. In addition, a lack of connectivity can make it difficult to implement essential services such as telemedicine and online education. More and more people will be interested in migrating from their underdeveloped countries to others where they believe they can improve and thrive in their lives.

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5G technology is crucial to the future of telecommunications. It offers data transmission speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G, lower latency and a greater capacity to connect devices. This not only improves the user experience, but also enables new applications in areas such as industrial automation, augmented reality, and telemedicine.

However, some countries are becoming isolated from the world due to the lack of a developed telecommunications infrastructure:

• Haiti: With a very limited telecommunications infrastructure, Haiti faces major challenges in improving its connectivity. Lack of investment and frequent natural disasters have made it difficult to develop a robust network.
• Afghanistan: Political instability and conflict have prevented the development of adequate telecommunications infrastructure. The majority of the population has limited access to the internet and connection speeds are very low.
• Central African Republic: With one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the world, the Central African Republic faces serious obstacles to improving its telecommunications infrastructure due to a lack of resources and political instability.
• Papua New Guinea: Mountainous geography and lack of investment have resulted in underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure. The majority of the population has limited access to the internet and connection speeds are low.
• Tuvalu: This small island nation in the Pacific has a very limited telecommunications infrastructure. The lack of connectivity has isolated Tuvalu from the rest of the world, hampering economic and social development.

These examples underscore the importance of investing in telecommunications infrastructure to prevent countries from being left behind in the digital age. Disconnected countries are equal to backward, underdeveloped countries, poverty, lack of access to good education, etc. and all the problems that this entails.

Fibre optics are the backbone of modern telecommunications. Its ability to transmit large amounts of data at high speed and with low latency makes it an essential technology to support growing internet traffic and the demands of new technological applications. We have areas with 10GB connections while others don't even have internet access.

To close the digital divide, it is essential to implement initiatives that promote investment in telecommunications infrastructure in less developed countries. International financing programs, public-private partnerships, and large-scale infrastructure projects can help improve global connectivity.

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For regions where the installation of fibre optics is not feasible, satellite connections are presented as a viable alternative. Companies like SpaceX's Starlink are leading this technological revolution. Starlink uses a constellation of satellites in low orbit to provide high-speed, low-latency internet, even in remote areas. Starlink currently offers services in various parts of the world, including the United States, Europe, Australia, and parts of Latin America.

In addition to Starlink, other companies are also developing satellite internet solutions:

• Kuiper Systems: A subsidiary of Amazon, plans to launch more than 3,200 satellites to offer global connectivity.
• Viasat: Provides satellite internet services in rural and remote areas, with speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
• HughesNet: Offers satellite internet in North America, with a focus on rural areas where other forms of connectivity are not available.

These alternatives can be crucial to bridge the digital divide in regions where terrestrial infrastructure is insufficient. The implementation of these technologies can significantly improve connectivity, facilitating access to education, health and digital commerce.

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The island of St. Helena, known for being the place where Napoleon died, has faced significant challenges due to its lack of fibre optic infrastructure. Until recently, the island relied on slow (almost the slowest in the world) and expensive (the most expensive connection in the world) satellite connections. However, the recent installation of Google's Equiano submarine cable has dramatically improved connectivity, reducing latency and improving internet access. A country that lived almost disconnected from the rest of the world. Where the transfer of data from companies was done at night when there was less network occupancy, or they encountered great problems for simple tasks such as sending an email. A society that did not even consider options such as e-commerce and online training. An island that I know well because I was involved in the fibre optic deployment project. 15 wonderful days supervising the layout and terrain on an extraordinary and beautiful island where I could only communicate with my family via WhatsApp text messages a couple of times a day.

BONUS;

If everyone had access to satellites for mobile phone communication, it could bring about several significant changes:

1. Global Connectivity: People in remote or underserved areas would have reliable access to communication networks, bridging the digital divide and enabling better access to information, education, and emergency services.
2. Disaster Response: In times of natural disasters or emergencies, satellite communication could provide a resilient and reliable means of communication when terrestrial networks are down, improving coordination and response efforts.
3. Economic Opportunities: Enhanced connectivity could spur economic growth by enabling new business opportunities, especially in rural and remote areas. It could also support innovations in fields like agriculture, healthcare, and logistics.
4. Security and Privacy: While satellite communication can enhance security by providing more robust and widespread coverage, it also raises concerns about privacy and data security. Ensuring secure and private communication channels would be crucial.
5. And really important: Citizens of countries with authoritarian governments, dictatorships, corrupt governments, etc. could bypass the limitations imposed by these governments and communicate freely with the rest of the world through secure channels.

DavidQPantoja

It is true that a country with a good telecommunications infrastructure does not guarantee that it is an advanced country with high levels of well-being, but a country disconnected from the world does have a direct relationship with a poor and dangerous country for its citizens.

Every day more citizens of these countries will try to emigrate to more developed countries where they can have a better life. Even if it were out of pure selfishness, developed countries have to make an effort to ensure that no one is left behind in this area. Helping countries to develop their telecommunications is a responsibility of all.