Outflanking Network Neutrality: The Ubiquitous Broadband Strategy

[Commentary] Established telecommunications companies are committing their reserves of financial, legal and political power to stop the advance of new Internet companies in their tracks. The latter however have a broader vision. For them, network neutrality is an important issue but a feint; it draws the attention of telecommunications companies away from the bigger threat and the greater prize.

Over the past few years, Internet companies Google, Facebook, Amazon have announced a series of investments in unconventional broadband access points mounted on drones, blimps, and satellites as well as more conventional fiber and wireless. Internet companies are betting that demand for broadband along with consumer unhappiness with established telecommunications companies will fuel demand for alternate connectivity. Deployed, these technologies will enable Internet companies to overcome the last mile advantage held by telecommunications companies and deal directly with consumers while taking on the costs of administering a network. This is the real prize and promise of ubiquitous broadband. By avoiding the use of terrestrial infrastructure, Internet companies avoid two local problems: terrestrial infrastructure and filtering.

[John Laprise is an assistant professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar]