麻豆传媒

鈥淚 BELIEVE connectivity is a human right, and that if we work together we can make it reality.鈥� These were the lofty ideals Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed on 20 August, when he declared his intention to 鈥� that is, the fraction of humanity that currently lacks it.

With tech giants like Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Qualcomm as partners, Zuckerberg鈥檚 newly formed consortium looks to have the corporate muscle to achieve such a monumental vision.

But the specifics, at least for the moment, are fuzzy. Zuckerberg鈥檚 10-page statement talks of three broad objectives: making apps and other software more data-efficient; devising a way to make building access to the internet a profitable enterprise in its own right; and at the same time making online access affordable for all 鈥� which effectively means 鈥渇ree鈥�.

Making apps more efficient is the low-hanging fruit. Data compression algorithms 鈥� like those that create zip files 鈥� are used all the time. For companies like Facebook, which pay fees to transfer vast amounts of data around the internet, the incentive to squeeze down your photos, wall posts and 鈥渓ikes鈥� into a slimmer data package is clear. To this end, Facebook is already trying to reduce average data usage on its Android app from 12 Mb a day to 1 Mb.

But the bigger question remains unanswered. How do you build a vast network to reach people who, in many cases, can鈥檛 afford access to running water, electricity or medical care?

鈥淭he fundamental problem is whether the infrastructure is in place. Do these countries have a 鈥榖ackbone鈥�, like BT fibre, which they can use?鈥� asks Colin Beeke, a technology specialist at the University of West London.

Partner companies could help here. Qualcomm, for example, based in San Diego, California, makes chips for wireless communication devices, and played a key role in devising the 3G and 4G standards used by cellular networks across the developed world. The company predicts data demand will grow 1000-fold over the next decade. As it focuses on meeting those needs, it could find cheaper, more efficient data transmission methods that could have a trickle-down effect in the developing world.

If that pans out, there is some evidence that content providers would be willing to make their products freely available to mobile users. Since 2010, Facebook has formed partnerships with mobile data providers in developing countries to 鈥渮ero-rate鈥� Facebook鈥檚 mobile traffic, so that it doesn鈥檛 count against users鈥� paid data plans. The Wikimedia Foundation has followed suit. Its project allows people in several developing countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, to read the Wikipedia online encyclopedia in their native language without being billed for the data.

Of course, every company wants an opportunity to grow its market, and will have competition. Google has its own lofty plan for the developing world: involves floating thousands of balloons about 20 kilometres up in the stratosphere and beaming down Wi-Fi signals to otherwise unconnected regions. It may sound like pie in the sky, but they are ahead of . In a test in June, Project Loon flew 30 balloons over New Zealand, allowing a few lucky locals to get online, absolutely free.

联 will have competition. Google has its own plan for the developing world聰

This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淎 connected world鈥�