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Perhaps I'm the asshole here, but until internet companies feet are really held to the fire on pricing, I don't feel like giving is going to make a substantial

Perhaps I'm the asshole here, but until internet companies feet are really held to the fire on pricing, I don't feel like giving is going to make a substantial difference. If suddenly the money becomes available to sponsor millions of people's internet, the price of the internet will magically jump 50-500% in cost. Additionally, while we want to magically give internet to all nations and I think that is a wonderful gesture, it seems to me that the very best thing we can do for the whole of mankind is to improve the impulse control of every single person alive today. With proper impulse control comes the ability to want to be educated and make a difference. Internet certainly makes it possible to become more educated, but without proper impulse control I'm afraid it would all be wasted on uselessness. I say this as someone that has themselves looked at way too many cat pictures and Netflix videos. Also the internet seems to be awash with types of vendors that are trying their very best to remove the impulse control of others. I don't think giving Candy Crush to the entirety of any continent is going to benefit if impulse control is the issue that is causing them the most struggle. Perhaps we should better focus on giving people the types of applications and access that are scientifically proven to improve lives? Just a thought.

jibla 7y ago
The prices for internet connection are much cheaper in developing countries 10-15 USD and we work with local ISP's and small Wifi operators where they provide free installations and some operators provide discounts on monthly fees. Regarding your second question I am copying my answer from a post below: Besides connecting students, we run an online mentorship program via Chat, online groups, sometimes phone/ video calls. First Students receive a link with a "welcome package"-list of most popular and relevant educational platforms which are available in the local language. We also partner with the local EdTech partners who provide their services for free for our students, so if anyone is interested in any platform we teach them how to use it and provide free access. We are also long term partners with Khan Academy and Code.org and actively promote these platforms to the students. On a weekly basis, we post in an online group different educational content, free offers from our partners and education organizations who provide their courses for free (both online and offline), we post different scholarship opportunities, fellowships, programs, etc. We plan to provide tailor-made educational content separately to each student according to their interests and challenges. Also thinking to test different models. At some point, I am not sure yet how can we maintain this educational part on a bigger scale. Hopefully through partners on the ground. But still, we believe that since we all take internet connection for granted and at the same time utilize it for the good of ourselves (not always of course), others have the same right to do it.
austincheney 7y ago
When I upgraded to fiber I was paying $80 per month for unlimited data that averages around 920mb up and down to my house. The website says its now only $70 and it still performs the same. My ISP upgrade the entire neighborhood to fiber at no cost. Before fiber I was paying around $50 per month for 10mbps down and 3mbps up. I know people like to hate on ISPs for pricing or availability, but I consider my case to be a fair deal. I live in a house in the US.
tguvot 7y ago
You are not an asshole, but... There is a big difference in pricing and revenue of internet providers in USA and in lets say Africa. In USA mobile providers have ARPU of 30-40$ per user or so while in Aftica it will hover around 1$ (in some countries a more in some even less). It makes networks barely profitable and unwilling to expand to more rural or poor areas because it will hurt bottom line.

jibla 7y ago

The prices for internet connection are much cheaper in developing countries 10-15 USD and we work with local ISP's and small Wifi operators where they provide free installations and some operators provide discounts on monthly fees. Regarding your second question I am copying my answer from a post below: Besides connecting students, we run an online mentorship program via Chat, online groups, sometimes phone/ video calls. First Students receive a link with a "welcome package"-list of most popular and relevant educational platforms which are available in the local language. We also partner with the local EdTech partners who provide their services for free for our students, so if anyone is interested in any platform we teach them how to use it and provide free access. We are also long term partners with Khan Academy and Code.org and actively promote these platforms to the students. On a weekly basis, we post in an online group different educational content, free offers from our partners and education organizations who provide their courses for free (both online and offline), we post different scholarship opportunities, fellowships, programs, etc. We plan to provide tailor-made educational content separately to each student according to their interests and challenges. Also thinking to test different models. At some point, I am not sure yet how can we maintain this educational part on a bigger scale. Hopefully through partners on the ground. But still, we believe that since we all take internet connection for granted and at the same time utilize it for the good of ourselves (not always of course), others have the same right to do it.

austincheney 7y ago

When I upgraded to fiber I was paying $80 per month for unlimited data that averages around 920mb up and down to my house. The website says its now only $70 and it still performs the same. My ISP upgrade the entire neighborhood to fiber at no cost. Before fiber I was paying around $50 per month for 10mbps down and 3mbps up. I know people like to hate on ISPs for pricing or availability, but I consider my case to be a fair deal. I live in a house in the US.

tguvot 7y ago

You are not an asshole, but... There is a big difference in pricing and revenue of internet providers in USA and in lets say Africa. In USA mobile providers have ARPU of 30-40$ per user or so while in Aftica it will hover around 1$ (in some countries a more in some even less). It makes networks barely profitable and unwilling to expand to more rural or poor areas because it will hurt bottom line.