Globalization of Mobile and Wireless Communications: Bridging the Digital Divide

Abstract

According to Wikipedia the term globalization refers to “economic integration on a global scale, into a global economy, which blurs national boundaries”. Globalization is a phenomenon involving the integration of economies, cultures, governmental policies, and political movements around the world. Depending on audience and context, the term globalization may have positive or negative connotations. For example, globalization of trade, markets and production has led to a steep reduction of prices of most goods worldwide. On the other end, it has also dealt a lethal blow to those companies that have not been up to the challenge, resulting in unemployment and loss one of economic stability for many communities and countries. The recent financial crisis, that has affected the world economy on a global scale, has shown that the globalization of the financial markets has paved the way to speculations out of control of any regulatory institution. What is happening to the mobile communication market is a good example of positive globalization: in few years mobile phones have spread all around the world becoming a low-cost tool capable of providing wireless connectivity almost everywhere. Nevertheless, until now most of the efforts have targeted developed countries and yet too little has been done for the rest of the world.