Currently, around one to two billion users are able to connect to the Internet, most of
them living in the industrialized parts of the world. However, if we want to improve
the quality of life of the world population with the help of access to information and
education, it is necessary that in the next decade an additional five billion people
gain access to the Internet. Such a strategy is needed to fight poverty and inequality.
The next five billion Internet users are mainly living in emerging economies. They
cannot afford the kind of broadband data services many of us are enjoying today. In
fact, most of them do not have internet access at all due to missing infrastructure.
Therefore, the main challenge is to lower the economic barrier using new approaches
for infrastructure deployment and service delivery, in order to provide affordable
Internet access to billions of people living on the lower levels of the income pyramid.
Lowering the costs basically means providing new low cost infrastructure, connectivity
and terminals. Examples are cloud computing, advanced mobile backhaul
solutions, or entry level PCs and novel mobile devices. However, this is not the only
target which needs to be reached. Another aspect is to provide tailored services
which are relevant to the people in their specific situation. The services should support
them in their business, which is usually some kind of microentrepreneurship
(e.g. farming or crafts). They also need to help overcome the lack of basic service
infrastructure, e.g. by offering micro banking services. Other types of relevant mass
market services are healthcare (eHealth), or services like Ambient Assisted Living.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can help increase the well being
of people thus contributing to the economic development. In turn, ICT becomes
more affordable to low income communities.