Bennett Doughty, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Pamela Stewart Fahs, Binghamton University, State University of New York
The vaccines' cold storage requirements and shipment rules put small, rural communities at a disadvantage, but that's only part of a long-running challenge.
The pandemic will have a long-term impact on life in the countryside.
Farmers, cottagers and small business organizations are among the groups clamouring for better broadband in Ontario, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Pexels)
The need for much-improved internet connectivity exists across Canada. Will the Ontario government's recent announcement of $1 billion and the federal government's announcement of the Universal Broadband Fund of $1.75 billion for improved broadband be enough to make a difference?
Conflict arising from government’s ownership of Telkom and its regulatory role contributed to failure to achieve digital transformation.
Shutterstock
South Africa has come short of its digital ambitions, but it can catch up by ensuring access to high speed broadband, and support for domestic digital firms and entrepreneurs.
Millions of households are expected to gain access to upgraded internet connections, with speeds of up to one gigabit per second (if you're willing to pay for the plan).
High-speed internet is harder to come by in the country.
Martin Barraud/Stone via Getty Images
Americans depend more than ever on high-speed internet to connect to jobs, get health care and socialize. What policies really work to close the rural-urban digital divide?
After the 'world's biggest work-from-home experiment', many people (and their employers) might decide they needn't commute every day. If even a fraction do that, infrastructure needs will change.
Slow or unreliable internet access is a reality for millions of Americans.
ben dalton/Flickr
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing people to study and work online. It's also sparked a need for news and information. That's a challenge for the 24 million Americans who lack broadband internet access.
wfh, but will I be able to connect?
George Rudy/Shutterstock
Only 3 million UK homes have fibre broadband which will aid their working from home to counter coronavirus spread. But those with copper ADSL or bad connections on mobile 4G may struggle.
A recent federal court ruling lets big telecom companies censor the internet in ways that boost their own profits – but also allows local and state governments to outlaw censorship if they wish.
Living in an urban centre is no guarantee for new NBN technology.
from www.shutterstock.com
Around half of homes in three major Australian cities only have access to very old technology: hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC). For them, access to the NBN fibre network remains only a fairy tale.
The NBN is on the path to being privatised after construction finishes.
AAP
The NBN is on track to be privatised after the infrastructure is completed, but there are a number of other options that would retain the benefits of its disruption of the telecommunications market.
Ongoing cost, technology and customer service problems have damaged the NBN brand.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull may be happy with his NBN connection, but many Australians aren't. And with an increasing number of alternatives on offer, the NBN could become a white elephant in Australian cities.
Telecommunications wires stretch along a rural Kansas road.
Technology & Information Policy Institute, University of Texas
Many people in rural America don't have access to fast, affordable internet access. How might those communities connect to the global exchange of goods, services and ideas?
Telstra will compensate more than 42000 customers for slow NBN speeds.
Joel Carrett/AAP
Australia's problems with the national broadband network run deeper than what can be solved through an investigation or more monitoring. Maybe we were just too optimistic.
As the issue of an open and free internet again comes up for public debate, Congress could participate – and help regulators devise a workable set of policies.
FirstNet could relieve emergency workers of having to carry multiple radios and other communications devices.
AP Photo/Ric Francis
A multibillion-dollar effort is just beginning to build an all-new nationwide wireless broadband network for emergency responders. How will it work, why do we need it and how will it last 25 years?
Senior Lecturer, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Adj Professor of Digital Forensics, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Adelaide