Bitcoin Forum

One of my first post here was about using HAM radio and bitcoin and the internet. This is not directly about bitcoin so this thread could be moved to the appropriate sub forum. This is amazing how any human can be online anywhere all the time without a heavy development structure or impact on Nature (Yes! Polar bears look tasty, we should try to save them).

Internet access = bitcoin. If we go beyond "Microsoft's Propaganda", this tech is really cool.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Feb13/02-04WhitespacesPR.aspx

NAIROBI, Kenya — Feb. 5, 2013 — Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with the government of Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications and Indigo Telecom Ltd., today announced the launch of a pilot project delivering low-cost wireless broadband access to previously unserved locations near Nanyuki and Kalema, Kenya. The network utilizes TV white spaces and solar-powered base stations to deliver broadband access and create new opportunities for commerce, education, healthcare and delivery of government services.

This pilot is part of Microsoft’s broader 4Afrika Initiative (see related release), to help improve the continent’s global competitiveness. A core goal of the 4Afrika Initiative is to facilitate access to technology for the masses and to empower African students, entrepreneurs, developers and others to become active global citizens.

TV white spaces, the unused portions of wireless spectrum in the frequency bands generally used for television, are particularly well-suited for delivering low-cost broadband access to rural and other unserved communities. Radio signals in the TV bands travel over longer distances and penetrate more obstacles than other types of radio signals and, therefore, require fewer base stations to provide ubiquitous coverage. Microsoft intends to use this pilot and other similar initiatives to encourage African governments to make the needed legal and regulatory changes that would allow this type of technology to be deployed continentwide.
 

Google in south africa: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/25/google-starts-a-tv-white-space-trial-in-south-africa/

I hope, they can agree on a common standard and avoid a digital divide when they conquer africa.

That's interesting.

On the other hand, I can't help but wonder why they care about Africa.  Getting them up to speed with global competitiveness just translates into "We need more worker-slaves, and Africa is ripe for the picking."

Ah well.  I wouldn't mind solar-powered Internet in my area.  That'd save me a good $50 a month.

16mbps... Not too shabby!