In a globalized and interconnected world, not having access to the Internet is a disadvantage that generates inequality and this has been demonstrated in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that necessitated working from home or online classes.
In an article published in archdaily.mxKaley Overstreet, Master of Science in Real Estate Development at Columbia University, notes that as the world becomes increasingly digitally interconnected, especially with the trend of working from home, it is important to consider what it means to be able to access the Internet from anywhere, both in terms of the infrastructure needed to support the signals and access the technology.
"Both the public and private sectors have explored ways to target low-income communities that are unable to access the Internet by providing hotspots in public areas, installing new small cell technology on existing infrastructure, subsidizing the full cost of building new networks, and creating new market dilution opportunities for service providers." states.
It is the low-income communities that are the least connected, many of which are considered more rural or tribal regions, where fewer jobs and less infrastructure can support the region's economic activity.
"The connected divide and the economic divide seem to almost mirror each other, with wealthy regions having extremely high connectivity rates," he adds.
To bridge the digital divide, new buildings constructed in both rural areas and dense cities without connectivity need to consider the development of projects that ensure that connectivity can be enabled in the future, even if the infrastructure does not currently exist, for example:
- A library that will need ample space for computer labs.
- Schools where children may need after-hours spaces to do their homework if they cannot stay online at home.
- Additional seating in the cafeterias for people who wish to spend the afternoon doing research.
- Dedicated furniture that provides space for multiple screens to increase productivity in the workplace.
These are all small steps to bring Internet access to places where people will want to be connected.
Our society in the modern era depends on being online, so much so that it affects how successful we can be in our daily lives, while those on low incomes and in rural communities suffer without internet, we can take steps to digitally bridge this gap.
