Universal broadband connectivity is viewed as a necessity, but many areas lack affordable access due to factors such as population density, infrastructure, and government policy. There is no universal definition of broadband, and speeds vary widely between countries. Urban areas have better access than rural areas due to cost and technology limitations. Government policies can impact availability, with some countries offering tax incentives or declaring broadband access a legal right.
With the internet increasingly intertwining with every aspect of human life, many governments and individuals have come to view universal broadband connectivity as a necessity. Many areas in both developed and developing countries, however, lack affordable broadband internet access. One of the main difficulties in discussing the availability of broadband is the absence of a universal definition of ‘broadband’. Additionally, broadband availability is affected by a variety of factors, including population density, geographic area, communications infrastructure, market conditions, and government regulations.
There is no widely shared definition for what constitutes a broadband connection. Speeds up to 768 kilobits per second (kbps) are advertised as “high speed,” but the US Federal Communications Commission, for example, considers the minimum speed for broadband to be 2 megabits per second (mbps). In other countries, speeds vary widely, and what’s considered a broadband Internet connection in one country may be too slow for in another.
Population density is a major factor contributing to the availability of broadband. In urban environments, the cost of installing new equipment can be recouped quickly due to the increased number of potential customers. Some broadband technologies are also better suited to urban than rural environments. Faster Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services, for example, are often only available to customers within 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) or less of the telephone company’s central office.
Unfortunately, the technology that could bring high-speed Internet service to rural areas can also be hampered by geography. Satellite service requires a clear view of the sky, which can be a problem for users in valleys or for people who live near large trees or other obstructions. Wireless technologies are also limited, with worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) requiring a clear line of sight for the best connections and WiFi; this is limited to a few hundred feet (about 150 meters) in most situations.
The availability of broadband has also been determined to some extent by the existing telecommunications infrastructure. Newer fiber optic cables for Internet service are often installed alongside older communications infrastructure. Telecom companies have already secured the right of way for this aging infrastructure, making it easier to roll out new cables. For some technologies, legacy infrastructure may be incompatible with broadband or too expensive to upgrade.
Government policy can have a huge impact on broadband availability. Japan, for example, offers tax incentives for companies that provide very high-speed fiber optic services. Finland has declared broadband access a legal right and promises to bring 100 megabit connections to all its citizens by 2015. The United States has also taken steps to bring broadband service to around seven million of Americans lacking it as of 2010. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included $7.2 billion United States Dollars (USD) in grants to increase rural broadband availability.
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