How can satellite broadband Internet become a weapon for bridging the digital divide?
DR: Satellite broadband is today a “weapon” for bridging the digital divide. In the US, which is one of the most wired nations in the world, we provide broadband connectivity to over 275,000 consumers. These are people who, were it not for satellite broadband, would be left with only a dial-up for access connectivity. Even more compelling are some of the governmental initiatives we’ve seen around the world where satellite broadband is being used to significantly improve education services in rural regions. An excellent example of this is in Mexico where the government has implemented a series of “eMexico” initiatives to bring broadband to schools throughout the country. The Hughes satellite system is used to provide cost effective access to schools in rural and remote areas. In India, Hughes has worked with the Department of Space to provide satellite broadband infrastructure for the “Edusat” project, which aims to extend University level teaching to schools throughout India. CP: What
