Comms infrastructure is often greenfield in emerging-markets so there’s no legacy systems getting in the way, and the companies doing the deployment have the in

Comms infrastructure is often greenfield in emerging-markets so there’s no legacy systems getting in the way, and the companies doing the deployment have the incentive to deploy the then-latest-and-greatest. But in 20-30 years’ time they’ll be having the same problems we have :) Another issue is a lack of the kind of regulations (or their enforcement) that comms companies really dislike: things like regs about how to correctly bury cables and land-use rights or how to share overhead cable line poles - and most importantly: minimum service requirements. It’s easy to focus your entire org on a flashy new FTTP set-up in one single rich urban city when you’re not legally required to also keep a 75+ year-old unprofitable rural copper system running. (No, I’m not a libertarian - and I’m happy to pay more for my service with the understanding that I’m subsidising a system that keeps isolated and vulnerable people connected.) Certain types of corruption at the local level also play a part - which ordinarily would lead to worse outcomes overall, but in my case, at least, I’d love it if the suits that run BT’s OpenReach could be bribed to stop propping up copper :/