Review #6 -- Wireless Broadband Solutions in Latin America

This article, written by Martha Garcia-Murillo and Juan Rendon for Telematics and Informatics, addresses wireless broadband systems in Latin America. The authors establish the point that the nation’s physical infrastructure is lacking and, for this reason, may benefit greatly from investment in wireless technologies. Garcia-Murillo and Rendon state that “wired infrastructure was poorly maintained and rarely upgraded.” (p. 259) For this reason, they believe that wireless solutions could provide a solution to the digital divide present in these nations.

Within the study, the authors examine technologies such as WiFi and third generation cellular devices, the later being more expensive, but both providing similar results in terms of access. Socioeconomics become the main thrust of the article. The authors focus on how different sectors of the country need to be the focus of different technologies. For those with lesser incomes, WiFi is the most ardent solutions to their access needs. On the contrary, third generation provides a more convenient, yet expensive, solution for wealthier sectors. While this article focuses on Latin America, this realization is even true within the United States. Third and fourth generation technologies are targeted towards major metropolitan areas. The free market dictates almost all of us. These populations are more affluent and sheer numbers drive investment, but it seems that investors in developing countries would have similar interests.

I found this article intriguing because it highlights a different aspect of the digital divide, this being social standing within nations. Solutions to this seem to be in having varied technologies that fit the need, and level of income, for the population. The authors state, “Wide income disparities allow the adoption of state of the art technologies such as 3G wireless – for some. Poorer segments of the population can access the Internet through WiFi in commercial establishments.” (p. 261). Examining situations where major infrastructure investment is needed, this example being a developing nation, allows a user of these technologies in a developed nation to reflect upon the reasons behind having this infrastructure. As stated before, without a market for the technology, none of this happens, at least from a private sector standpoint. Examination of the needs to populations, such as this study, can hopefully drive these investments into being made. Careful investment will hopefully lead to profits and allow systems to be maintained, a problem present in the past. This is a nice examination because it provides viable alternatives for different populations and doesn’t simply attempt to blanket everyone into a one-fit model.

Garcia-Murillo, M., Rendon, J. (2009). A model of wireless broadband diffusion in Latin America. Telematics and Informatics 28 (2009), 259-260.