In rural India, limited internet connectivity has hindered progress and development. However, a game-changing technology called “Air Fiber” is set to transform the situation. In this article, we will explore Air Fiber, its advantages, how it works, and its potential impact on rural communities. Leading brands like Mikrotik, Cambium, and Ubiquiti are spearheading this innovative solution.
Advantages of Air Fiber
Rapid Deployment: Air Fiber can be quickly installed, making it ideal for areas where traditional wired infrastructure is challenging to implement.
Scalability: The network can easily expand to meet growing demands, accommodating more users without significant investments.
Cost-Effectiveness: By eliminating the need for physical cables, Air Fiber reduces overall setup costs, critical for resource-limited regions.
Reliability: With advanced radio technologies and redundancy measures, Air Fiber ensures a consistent and dependable internet connection.
How Air Fiber Works
Air Fiber operates using radio waves to transmit data over long distances without the need for physical cables. The technology relies on a transmitter to send data in the form of radio signals, which are captured and converted back into data by a receiver at the user’s end. By employing various radio frequencies and advanced modulation techniques, Air Fiber can efficiently overcome obstacles like hills and buildings, providing high-speed internet connectivity even in remote and challenging terrains.
Impact on Rural India
Education: High-speed internet will bridge the educational divide, enabling e-learning opportunities for students in rural areas.
Healthcare: Telemedicine facilities can be established, improving healthcare access for rural residents.
Agriculture: Farmers can access vital information online, enhancing productivity and decision-making in farming practices.
Entrepreneurship: Air Fiber empowers small businesses to reach larger markets and engage in e-commerce activities.
Conclusion
Air Fiber holds immense potential in revolutionizing rural India’s connectivity. With leading brands like Mikrotik, Cambium, and Ubiquiti supporting this technology, we can look forward to a future where every corner of rural India thrives with seamless internet access. This transformation will bridge the digital divide and drive socio-economic growth and prosperity for rural communities.
In today’s rapidly advancing digital age, the world is witnessing unprecedented growth in information and communication technology (ICT). However, amidst this digital revolution, a profound inequality persists – the digital divide. This divide represents the gap between individuals who have access to ICT and those who do not. It encompasses not only the lack of internet connectivity but also limited access to computers, smartphones, and digital literacy. Shockingly, even in the 21st century, approximately 40 percent of the global population remains offline, exacerbating the disparities in economic, social, and political opportunities. This article explores the implications of the digital divide on various aspects of human life and highlights the urgency of bridging this gap.
Below, we will present you with a short video on the digital divide.
The digital divide refers to the stark disparity in access to information and communication technology (ICT) between different segments of society. It encompasses individual limitations in owning digital devices, accessing the internet, and lacking digital literacy skills. Societally, it manifests as unequal access to digital infrastructure and services, affecting communities and regions worldwide. The divide intersects with income, gender, age, and ethnicity, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalized groups. Bridging the digital divide is essential for promoting social justice and inclusive development. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, digital access is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity for economic opportunities and active participation in society. Addressing this divide requires concerted efforts from governments, businesses, and civil society to ensure equitable access to digital resources and empower individuals to thrive in the digital age.
The Impact on Economic Access
Access to digital technology plays a pivotal role in shaping an individual’s economic potential. With the internet as a gateway to a vast realm of information and market opportunities, those who lack digital access are often left behind. Businesses, especially small enterprises, face considerable barriers to growth and innovation when they are disconnected from the digital world. Access to online markets, financial services, and e-commerce platforms can drastically improve their economic prospects. Addressing the digital divide is crucial for fostering inclusive economic development and reducing the economic disparities that perpetuate poverty.
The Social Dimension
In an increasingly interconnected world, social interactions are significantly influenced by digital technology. Social networks, online communities, and digital platforms facilitate communication, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. Being digitally excluded can lead to feelings of isolation and hinder social engagement, particularly for marginalized communities. Additionally, access to educational resources and distance learning opportunities are often dependent on digital infrastructure. As education is a powerful tool for upward mobility, the digital divide can exacerbate existing social inequalities.
Political Implications
Digital access has transformed political participation, enabling citizens to engage in the democratic process, access information, and express their opinions. The digital divide, however, poses a serious threat to the principle of equal representation. Without access to ICT, marginalized communities may find it challenging to voice their concerns, advocate for their rights, and hold public officials accountable. As a result, the digital divide can undermine the democratic fabric of societies, stifling the free flow of information and limiting citizens’ ability to actively participate in governance.
Access to Opportunities
In the modern job market, digital skills have become essential for employability and career advancement. The lack of access to digital resources and training can create significant barriers for job seekers, preventing them from accessing a wide range of employment opportunities. This disparity reinforces existing socio-economic gaps and perpetuates cycles of poverty. Bridging the digital divide is crucial for fostering a skilled workforce that can thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Conclusion
The digital divide is not merely an issue of access to technology but a complex web of socio-economic inequalities that shape our global society. With almost 40 percent of the global population still offline, we must recognize the urgency in addressing this gap. Bridging the digital divide is not a luxury but a necessity for creating a more equitable and inclusive world.
Governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities must work together to invest in digital infrastructure, provide affordable internet access, and promote digital literacy programs. By empowering individuals with digital access, we can unlock their full potential and enable them to participate more fully in economic, social, and political spheres. Only through collective efforts can we bridge the digital divide and build a more just and prosperous future for all.
In this series, I talk about the current state of digital divide and rural broadband access in India as on 2021.
It’s 2021. We have been vocal about this issue for almost a decade now. Thousands of Indian villages suffer because of lack of broadband and Internet access.
With COVID and the economic lockdown for the lower and middle class, this country is facing one its biggest crisis in the century. There is an urgent need to enable information and Internet access for every single citizen of this country.
How do we expect children to be a part of online education without Internet access?
How do we expect people to participate in a digital economy without having access to Internet?
Does e-governance simply mean making new b.s. apps to give people an illusion that something is being done?
Why don’t we treat Internet access as a human right in this country?
To elevate poverty and misery from this country – we have to ensure equal opportunity to access information for all. This means, connecting every last village with broadband Internet access. We are one of the youngest countries in the world with tremendous potential to not just uplift ourselves but to also raise the standards for this entire sub-continent. We rise despite our government, not because of it.
From student protests to farmer protests, the government of India has time and again demonstrated its oppressive nature by blocking or censoring the Internet. However, nothing has been done to provide last mile connectivity to rural areas. The apathetic nature of our ruling classes do not consider the plight of the weakest members of our society. At this stage, for those of us who remain conscious, it’s up to us to empower the weakest and the most vulnerable members of our countries with infrastructure and educational access.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zk1C6IDhLw] At Muft Internet, one of the trusted internet bandwidth providers in India, we have been teaching locals from different remote villages in India how to set up their own community broadband without ANY help from big telco or the government. Both of which focus on quantity and profit instead of inclusivity while designing access solutions for the masses.
Since the lockdown hit last year, our team has been working round the clock to share this knowledge. Mobilizing young Indians to take charge of their own village’s broadband access. There is no point waiting for the government or big telcos to set up infrastructure in these remote and forgotten places.
We are one of the lowest ranking countries for Internet speeds and freedom. We have some of most wide-spread Internet censorship. A mark of a strong democracy and a civilised society is how they treat Internet access for it’s citizens. In India, we simply lack this.
Some of the villages we got broadband Internet to last year didn’t have 2g or any mobile network to communicate. We have been getting 100s of phones calls every week from villagers asking us to help them set up community broadband access for their villages, they wanted to know how to get wifi connection in village. It’s been impossible for us to reach all of these places at the same time considering our small research and technical team that works pro-bono.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpMl04ooAps] In light of this situation, we are launching our own digital education platform that aims to teach young Indians how to set up and run their rural broadband network. A simple 100 hour free course with a centralised helpline that will possibly transform the state of access in this country in time to come.
