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TopA Snapshot Of Latin America And The Caribbean1
Previous and present sessions of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) asserted the importance of the use of ICT for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the past, and of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at present. Wireless Internet technologies deserve particular attention not only because of their importance to the development process, but also because of their ability to reduce the costs of providing ICT access and ICT-enabled services to underserved areas, generating the benefits derived from hyper connectivity.
Access in underserved areas presumes the existence of backbone infrastructure connecting to the Internet (traditionally made of fiber optics or copper) as well as a means of distributing this uplink connection to underserved areas. Some analysts maintain that backbone networks and distribution services are the largest single cost item in the provision of access. The two most relevant wireless Internet standards for low-cost access provision are Wi-Fi and WiMax. Wi-Fi has commonly been used as a distribution service providing a “cloud” of connectivity in “hot- spots” and has become increasing popular in the last few years in urban centers around the world. WiMax technology is based on an emerging international standard that will revolutionize the provision of Internet services, serving either as a low-cost alternative to copper and fiber optics for backbone infrastructure in rural areas or as a distribution service capable of serving a large area. For remote areas with no proximate infrastructure, VSAT satellites promise the ability to connect communities to national networks and government services.
The cost of providing access to voice and data networks using wireless technologies, even in rural areas, approaches US$300 per subscriber, compared to US$1,000 for fiber optic or copper networks in urban areas. In addition, wireless technology does not imply significant sacrifices in quality or throughput. Furthermore, while copper or fiber optics usually cost between US$20,000 and US$40,000 per kilometer of connectivity, hundreds of kilometers of wireless connectivity can be provided for US$50,000 (Best, 2003). This cost advantage (which is widening with increasing global use of wireless technologies and resulting economies of scale) can be used to connect rural areas in a cost- effective and even self-sustainable fashion.