The opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You’re reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
In a world increasingly dependent on digital connectivity, the Internet has become a basic service as essential to the quality of human life as access to education, health, drinking water, and electricity. However, significant global digital divides remain, and they are deepening as access improves in urban areas and among higher-income users.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that approximately 37% of the world’s population, or approximately 2.6 billion people, remains offline. The digital divide is a global challenge, with major implications for regions with high levels of poverty on all continents. This digital divide not only impedes access to information, but also limits participation in the global digital economy, exacerbates existing socio-economic inequalities, and forces millions of urban dwellers into densely populated cities. It will be relegated to.
Source: Not2Far/Lucidity Insights
Multifaceted digital divide
The digital divide encompasses many different aspects, from access and affordability to literacy and cross-cultural barriers. This divide is not just an infrastructure issue. It is deeply intertwined with socio-economic, geographical and cultural factors.
Access and Infrastructure Internet access is severely limited in remote areas where populations are spread over large areas. This limitation is primarily due to the fact that popular technologies such as 4G, 5G, fiber optics, and traditional satellite networks are tailored for densely populated urban areas rather than sparse, expansive terrain. . The economic and logistical challenges of traditional Internet infrastructure, combined with the prohibitive costs and limited availability of satellite solutions, exacerbate this problem. Additionally, even advanced technologies such as low earth orbit (LEO) satellites face operational challenges in harsh terrain such as dense forests, further hindering effective internet connectivity in these remote locations. Masu.
affordable price The cost of Internet service is a barrier to access, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, and consumes a significant portion of the average person’s income.
Digital literacy and education It’s not just about access, it’s also about digital literacy. In many regions, training in these critical skills is lacking.
Sociocultural factors Cultural attitudes and biases, particularly against women and girls, can exacerbate the digital divide.
policy and regulation Government policies greatly influence internet accessibility, and restrictive or ignored regulations can hinder connectivity.
said Andres Navarro, Chief Technology Officer, Not2Far. Source: Not2Far
Efforts to bridge the global digital divide have led to remarkable advances in internet connectivity. A key development in this area is Elon Musk’s Starlink, which deploys over 5,000 satellites and offers download speeds of over 100Mbps and minimal latency, perfect for applications such as online gaming and streaming. We offer broadband services. But the impressive technological feats of Starlink and other LEO satellite constellations, such as Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper, have their own challenges if they are to one day become a viable option for bridging the digital divide. accompanies.
Countries such as Kenya and Nigeria have hailed Starlink as its potential to transform connectivity, but affordability remains a major barrier, especially in economically disadvantaged regions. Furthermore, the fact that these types of networks do not build any valuable infrastructure within their territories has led some countries, such as South Africa, to worry that these regions are overly dependent on foreign actors. and therefore insist on local ownership of the area. It emphasizes the need for solutions that are in line with the economic and sovereign interests of local communities.
Source: Not2Far/Lucidity Insights
The environmental and economic impacts of LEO satellites are also a growing concern among the scientific community. The carbon footprint, space debris, and electromagnetic pollution associated with these constellations have sparked debate, especially given the urgency of global warming goals. Critics advocate a more cautious approach, suggesting that space-based solutions should be a last resort following the search for terrestrial alternatives.
Related: Vivopower: Driving a digital future by bridging renewable energy and high-demand computing
NOT2FAR Solution
In this context, Not2Far aims to become the world’s most important rural internet service provider, offering a fully disruptive alternative close to the end user. Not2Far, based in McKinney, Texas and CEOed by serial entrepreneur Lope Trujillo, is making great strides in connecting remote and rural areas that have been ignored by major internet providers. Inspired by Nicolas Negroponte’s insightful article in Wired about the model MIT/Media Lab has implemented in Costa Rica, the Trujillos have dedicated more than 20 years to this cause as investors, serial entrepreneurs, and Internet pioneers. I have dedicated it.
Lope Trujillo, Founder and CEO of Not2Far. Source: Not2Far
Not2Far’s approach dramatically changes the profitability of connectivity. Compared to LEO satellite alternatives, the installation cost is 30 times lower and the operating cost is 300 times lower. This cost efficiency is essential to the success of the service, which targets regions where 80% of the world’s poorest people live, providing an affordable yet robust internet solution. The company’s technology requires no line-of-sight (NLOS), provides wide range (up to 75 km from the base station), and delivers speeds of up to 100 Mbps. To put things into perspective, a single Not2Far wireless node that can be set up in just three days has the ability to cover an area as large as Kuwait with internet service. You can move through forests, mountains and walls without causing interference with radio operators. Additionally, the electromagnetic footprint impact is 50 to 100 times lower than that of traditional television stations.
Not2Far’s approach goes beyond simply providing technology; as the name suggests, it’s based on intimacy and building strong community relationships. This includes learning about the culture and needs of rural areas long before you begin the network deployment process. A team of anthropologists and content experts then works with users to develop technical solutions that actually solve everyday challenges. And finally, educate locals about the transformative power of the Internet and demonstrate its practicality through innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Our work in Colombia with IoTree seismic sensors exemplifies this commitment and demonstrates how technology can be leveraged for specific local challenges, such as pest detection in agriculture.
Not2Far was founded in 2022 after five years of thorough groundwork and has developed deep knowledge of the regions and rural communities we serve. Not2Far’s deep understanding of the complex social dynamics within and between the communities it serves is key to its economic sustainability, and it is now recognized by top government agencies and international partners. It has received high praise from This ethnic innovation, coined by Mr. Trujillo, has uniquely positioned Not2Far not only as a provider, but also as an important enabler of his solutions for the Internet in the most remote regions of the world. With its expanding user base and the unique achievement of deploying this type of internet service in the VHF band outside of North America, Not2Far is living proof that terrestrial networks have the potential to bridge the global digital divide. It has become.
Currently, Not2Far is developing its market in Colombia and has already signed agreements with strategic partners in Mexico, Bolivia, Paraguay and Chile. The strategic partnership with his studio, Vivarium, provides a gateway to the Asia Pacific and Australian markets. Forged at a critical moment when Not2Far was fine-tuning its technology and business model in Colombia, this partnership provides the Arowana Group with the experience it has achieved in scaling its organization globally.
Angela Guzman, UX design leader and entrepreneur. Source: Not2Far/Lucidity Insights
Vivarium specializes in building and scaling innovative technologies that address humanity’s most pressing challenges as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Vivarium focuses on companies tackling a variety of issues, from the digital divide to the environmental crisis to social inclusion, and works with purpose-driven founders to deliver meaningful social and environmental change. A prime example of that effort is her support of Not2Far, a venture driven by her architect Angela Guzman, who has extensive experience in user experience design from her tenures at Google, Apple, and Airbnb. Guzmán, who is of Colombian descent but grew up in the United States, recalled meeting Not2Far and said, “Their commitment to bringing internet access to rural areas, similar to essential services like water and electricity, resonated deeply with me.”
Brian Abadia, Director of Operations at Not2Far, said: Source: Not2Far
NOT2FAR’s ambitious global expansion and community transformation
Over the next three years, Not2Far plans to expand its broadband and IoT network across three continents, with a focus on Latin America, Australia, and Africa. Not2Far is committed to providing an accessible experience that respects and reflects local culture in all of the communities it serves, and most importantly, improves their standard of living and provides a sustainable Promote innovative development. With a focus on innovation and reducing inequality, Not2Far aims to be like the Grameen Bank of the world of development finance in the internet access business. Its approach to getting closer to ancestral communities goes beyond the cold technology aspect and opens up a world of opportunities (from education to employment) to communities previously kept off the digital grid. They not only connect people to the internet, but also ensure that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world, no matter how far away they are. This story isn’t just about technology. It’s about building a more inclusive and fair future for everyone.
Explore how impact investing connects capital with positive social and environmental outcomes. Read our special report on impact investing here.
This article was originally published on Lucidity Insights, Entrepreneur Middle East’s partner in developing special reports on the technology and entrepreneurial ecosystems of the Middle East and Africa.
Related: How a digital bridge between the UAE and Central Asia can create a new global hub of digital excellence
