Digital Evolution: How ICT is Changing the Game Rules.

And is Twisting Our Life.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has emerged as an unstoppable force in contemporary society.

But to think of ICT merely as a technological tool would be a mistake. It’s a phenomenon that has profoundly altered our lives, businesses, and culture.

I still remember my early days, before the white of my moustache became a trademark, being captivated by the world of computation and data transmission.

The Pre-digital Era and the Significance of Communication

Before the advent of digital, communication was confined to conventional methods like letters, landline phones, and television broadcasts.

Data transmission was a marvel in my youth, leading to discoveries and innovations.

The Dawn of the Digital Revolution

With the surge of the Internet and mobile devices, ICT began to permeate every facet of our existence.

Every business, big or small, started integrating technology to enhance operations, marketing, and sales. Throughout my journey in the ICT sales sector, I’ve witnessed businesses transform, adapting to the new digital play rules.

I recall the early courses attended by boomers learning to use a mouse. It's an unimaginable notion today (this doesn’t mean that digital literacy isn’t an issue. it’s one of the significant challenges awaiting our society).

ICT as a Catalyst for Globalization

ICT has made the world smaller. Geographical barriers have become irrelevant, and speaking to someone on the other side of the globe has become an everyday norm. I believe ICT has made the world a “global village”, bringing diverse people and cultures closer than ever.

Challenges of Digitization

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. With digitization comes challenges like security concerns, privacy, and the ongoing need to update one’s skills to stay current. Throughout my journey, I’ve navigated these challenges, learning and adapting.

Looking Ahead: The Horizon of ICT

Looking forward, I see a bright horizon for ICT. With trends like artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and blockchain, the future is exhilarating. And I urge the next generation to dive into these opportunities, just as I did.

Dawn of Connectivity: 1960s — 1980s

1960s: ARPANET is born, considered the precursor to the Internet. It utilized packet-switching to allow multiple computers to communicate on a single network.

1970s: TCP/IP protocols are introduced, laying the groundwork for today’s Internet.

1980s: The first forms of dial-up connections emerged, allowing users to connect to the internet through telephone lines.

Connectivity Boom: 1990s — 2000s

1990s: Internet adoption became more mainstream with the birth of the World Wide Web. Dial-up connections dominate, but by the decade’s end, DSL and cable connections started to emerge, offering significantly higher speeds.

2000s: The broadband era. DSL and cable connections become standard. Towards the end of the decade, fibre optics emerged, offering ultra-high connection speeds.

Modern Era: 2010s — Present

2010s: Fiber optics become more accessible, and 4G mobile connections offer connection speeds competitive with home connections. The Internet of Things (IoT) concept emerges, where every device can be connected.

2020s: 5G technology emerges, promising revolutionary connection speeds and reduced latencies. Satellite connectivity, like SpaceX’s Starlink project, aims to provide internet access in remote areas of the planet.

Looking Ahead

As we look forward, the goal is global connectivity, where every corner of the world has access to fast and reliable internet. The challenge will be managing an ever-growing number of connected devices and ensuring user security and privacy in an increasingly digital world.

The journey from ARPANET to 5G connections highlights how far we’ve come in such a short period. Thinking about where the next wave of tech innovations will take us is exciting. ??????

Internet Adoption Over the Decades

1990s: The Dawn of Public Internet

1995: Roughly 16 million people had access to the internet, which was about 0.4% of the world’s population.

1999: This number jumped to over 248 million, accounting for 4% of the global population.

2000s: The Broadband Era

2005: Internet users reached approximately 1 billion, or about 15% of the world’s population.

2009: By the end of the decade, that number doubled to 2 billion, with nearly 29% of the global population online.

2010s: The Mobile Revolution

2015: About 3.2 billion people, around 43% of the world’s population, were using the internet.

2019: Internet users surged to approximately 4.1 billion, or 53% of the global population.

Internet Connection Speeds: A Quick Glance

Late 1990s: Average dial-up connection speeds were 56 Kbps.

Mid 2000s: Broadband connections, including DSL and Cable, averaged around 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps.

2010s: With the advent of fibre-optic connections, speeds soared from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps in many areas.

2020s: With the onset of 5G, mobile internet speeds in some areas began rivalling home broadband, promising speeds up to 10 Gbps.

The Digital Divide

While these numbers are impressive, it’s crucial to note the digital divide.

Even as late as the 2020s, many parts of the world, especially in developing nations, lacked robust internet infrastructure, leading to disparities in access and speed.

Through satellite internet projects and other initiatives, efforts have been made to bridge this gap and provide universal internet access.

About one-third of the people reached by connectivity remain in a state of inaccessibility to the digital mode for cultural or diversity reasons.

In Summary

The progression of the internet has been nothing short of phenomenal.

From a handful of users in the 1990s to over half the world’s population in the late 2010s, the digital realm’s growth is a testament to human ingenuity and our innate desire to connect and share knowledge.

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Conclusion

ICT has transformed how we live, work, and play. And as I reflect on my growth in the field, I’m excited about what the future holds.

I hope you, dear reader, join me on this thrilling journey.