Universal Digital Services Through Basic Broadband

TL;DR

This paper explores defining and achieving universal digital services globally through basic broadband, emphasizing the need for resilient, affordable connectivity that bridges the digital divide.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for universal digital services and discusses how current broadband limitations hinder global deployment.

Findings

Support for synchronous telepresence is a barrier to universal deployment.

Universal digital services require adaptable broadband infrastructure.

Achieving universality involves balancing functionality and accessibility.

Abstract

In addressing the universal deployment of digital services it is necessary to decide on the breadth of "universality" and the type of functionality of "digital services". These two decisions are linked: certain desirable functionality does not lend itself to being implemented in some environments or with certain constraints. In this paper we define universality as achieving a level of universality in digital service that can bridge the digital divide not only throughout highly industrialized societies but also across the globe and in the face of disruption. We then argue that some of the characteristics of current Internet broadband service, in particular support for synchronous telepresence such as videoconferencing, is a barrier to implementation strategies that could enable cheap and resilient universal deploymen