Internet for All and Technological Development

Abstract

The Internet is a network that connects millions of devices through communication protocols to transmit and receive information from Earth, the Moon, other planets, artificial and natural satellites, etc. Information is sent and received in pulses of light or electricity, which are processed by the communication system. 5G and 6G are the fifth and sixth technological generations of telephony; phones are, among other devices, computers that receive and transmit information. Space, fiber optics, and metallic cables are the most common transmission media that allow information to travel from one point to another over long and short distances.

Thirty-seven percent of the world’s population, approximately 2.9 billion people, have never used the Internet. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency for information and communication technologies (ICT), reports an increase in Internet usage due to the pandemic, from 4.1 billion users in 2019 to 4.9 billion in 2021.

Providing Internet access in rural, poor, and remote communities is not only a democratic right for their inhabitants but also an intrinsic necessity for society in those areas of the world. Internet access enables services such as mobile housing for mountain tourism, remote work for employees of various companies in even the most inaccessible locations, and the establishment of businesses in remote rural communities, among others. This could encourage some urban populations to migrate to rural areas.

Technological development reduces political, social, and economic conflicts. Therefore, if there is no full Internet coverage in a country, region, or continent, technological development will remain accessible only to certain sectors of the population in technologically advanced countries, while the situation will be even worse for countries without such development. As a result, social conflicts will continue to grow. For this reason, public policies should be directed toward achieving full Internet coverage, with support from international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union.

Technological development can be achieved by integrating basic and applied scientific research into companies based on their objectives, goals, and market strategies. This not only leads to the creation of new products, goods, and services but also provides employment opportunities for technicians and researchers from educational institutions.