First Name: Stephen
Current Event Posting Number: 2
Topic: Technology and Science
Title: Linking Pockets of Europe to High-Speed Internet
Writer: Eric Pfanner
Publication Name: New York Times
Date of Publication: November 28th 2010
Words: 2 pages
A. All over Europe, the Middle East and Asia, more than 30 million households have limited or even no internet connection. Even Ablis, a small town outside of Paris does not have internet connection fast enough to watch YouTube videos. To fix this problem, several European companies began launching satellites into orbit so that it can deliver broadband to European customers. These satellites have the capability to offer service quality that can match cable and DSL. The drawback for this new internet connection is that for households to receive Wi-Fi from the satellites, they would need to install satellite dishes and modems which can cost up to a few hundred dollars. Companies that sent these satellites into space like Avanti and Eutelsat, have decided to work through Internet service providers instead of selling directly to consumers so that the consumers will not have to be charged with additional fees. Although this new way of offering internet connection is revolutionary, it will be a last resort and will remain that way. This is because in the next generation, cellular networks used by phones can be used to fill the existing gaps in broadband.
B. In conclusion, companies like Avanti and Eutelsat have begun sending satellites into space so that they can provide internet connection to places like Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The main problem with this is in order for the consumers to receive this new connection; they will need to install satellite dishes in their homes which can cost even more than normal cable or DSL connection. In response to that, Avanti and Eutelsat will work with other Internet service providers so that the cost for internet connection will remain the same. Avanti and Eutelsat say that internet connection from satellites can be revolutionary but others believe it to be just a last resort since most cable and DSL connections are at least 10 times stronger.
I liked your blog posting! The idea sounds cool but wouldn't it be expensive for the companies to put the satellites in space? And, wouldn't it become obsolete in a few years anyways?
ReplyDeleteIt seems this Internet issue is outside Paris, not in United States. This article reminds me of Google Fiber, where Google in Mountain View tries to launch a project to bring up a giga-bit cable to the whole town/city to let them experience a super-fast Internet communication. I felt that the America's internet speed is relatively slow compared to other countries, but this article made me realize that some part in the world does not even have an Internet access. Perhaps we should appreciate what we have, not complaining all the time.
ReplyDeletei believe that this is a good thing to provide internet to place that don't. this also provides more jobs and brings the world closer together in terms of communication and common media. i think this will help children living in these off track places to become aware of whats going on in the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting! I do believe it is important for people all around the world to have internet because it, like paul said, helps people communicate better. And also, some people have telephones that need internet connection for it to be able to work.
ReplyDeleteIts a really good idea but i don't agree with the way they are going about doing it it seems far to costly and though it is much easier to not have to build and infrastructure of lines going through out Europe which are more permanent and have a greater capacity for transferring data especially if the lines are fiber optic lines.
ReplyDelete