Leading Worldwide Connectivity.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) released their latest report in September 2023.
The ITU estimates that despite improvements, compared with the previous year, Billions of people are still unconnected.
The report states that 2.6 Billion people don’t have access to the Internet.
This is particularly an issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, though not exclusively.
The main issue is the cost of providing the internet to remote locations.
Putting an Internet connection can be via fixed cables or wirelessly.
Fixed cables typically consist of fibre optic cables, and sometimes also copper cables.
In many places, you will find a combination of the two types of cable, with the fibre transmitting the signals long distance, and copper run into people’s houses.
The other method to deliver internet connectivity is via wireless communications.
The best-known wireless method to connect to the internet is via Smartphone.
Smartphones send radio signals back and forth between the phone, and a ‘Cell Tower’.
A Cell Tower consists of antennas on top of a metal tower, or building.
These Antennas are connected via coaxial cables, to the transmitting/receiving equipment, located nearby, such as at the base of the tower.
The transmitting and receiving equipment is also connected to the wider internet network, via fibre optics or microwave radio links.
Cell Towers cost a lot of money to install.
They also need to be placed quite close to the Smartphone users.
This is not a problem if you have lots of paying customers living nearby.
But what if you live in a remote location?
This is where D2D or Direct-To-Device can help.
Direct-to-device refers to connecting standard mobile/cell phones to Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO).
This differs from other LEO-based systems such as Starlink and OneWeb, which require specialist ground terminals, to communicate with the LEO satellites.
Direct-to-Device is a potential economic and educational game changer, for the planet.
Imagine an extra 2.6 Billion people, being connected to the Internet.
What would that mean in terms of economic and educational empowerment?
Economies could be transformed, allowing remotely located people to trade with other people in their own country, and even globally.
Education can also be transformed, by being able to reach all children, via online learning.
The UN-backed Project Giga, is aiming to provide internet connectivity, to all schools, and is making brilliant strides.
However, we need more, if the UN SDG4 goals, of providing education for all, by 2030, are to be achieved.
Many children don’t live near a school.
This can be solved using online education, and Direct-to-Device connectivity.
This is because D2D using LEO, provides worldwide internet coverage, for the first time.
An empowered worldwide people has benefits for everyone.
Benefits include increasing wealth in poor countries, empowering women, and decreasing the necessity for economic migration.
Finally, we should discuss war and conflict.
I recently read that war and conflict, are at the highest level since World War 2.
This results in displaced people, refugees and increased migration.
A result of this for children is disruption of their education.
This can be solved using donated Smartphones, and D2D satellite connectivity, to provide online lessons.
Worldwide connectivity is now becoming a reality, but there are challenges to making it universal for all.
Leading worldwide connectivity will take a multi-agency, multi-technology approach.
But delivering education to all of the world’s children is possible.