The Digital Divide, the gap between those who have access to the Internet and those who do not, is driving inequality in fundamental ways, including in health, education, the ability to generate income, and the capacity for democratic participation. Access to the internet is increasingly recognized as a human right. Remote areas around the globe, and particularly in the developing world, are often excluded from internet access, because of the logistical and financial obstacles of delivering connectivity to these areas. According to Digital Dividends, the 2016 Report from the World Bank, mobile phones provide the main form of data access in the developing world. However more than 2 billion people do not own a mobile phone and more than 60% of the world's population, 4.3bn people, have no access to the internet. This is not just a developing world problem, with many millions of people in North America offline.
LiFi, a proven communications technology which uses the visible light spectrum, holds the solution. Universally owned, safe, and offering 1,000 times the bandwidth of radio waves (e.g. WiFi), visible light can be used to wirelessly transmit data locally and over distance. LiFi data communication can be built around existing infrastructures, with ordinary solar panels doubling up as LiFi receivers. By 2050 the 'nervous system' will be built that will provide full connectivity to monitor the state of the planet, to enable autonomous systems and to connect people and ‘things’ no matter where they live or where they are."
Delete comment?
