Creativity needed in finding access solutions for rural Mexico

Researching Rural Development issues in Mexico, I stumbled upon this article regarding the effect that government regulations in Mexico on bandwidth have on information technology-based programs working on connecting remote villages never reached by wired infrastructure. Wi-Fi and Wi-Max can bring affordable high-speed internet access to isolated, rural areas. Due to technological progress, spectrum is ever more abundant and a sharable resource. Sadly enough, in rural Mexico, the government hasn’t opened up its regulations. And that, according to the author, directly impacts the lives of more than 50 million Mexican who live in porverty. The author claims that by opening up regulations, and thinking creatively about possible wireless connectivity solutions, the government can help empower these 50 or so million Mexicans who live in poverty to find a sustainable livelihood, through access to important information on crop prices, microfinancing, distribution channels, efficient and less-costly remittance systems, health information and communication with their migrant relatives. Neglecting or opposing the use of such new technologies is not only immoral but suicidal as a nation, and contrary to the long-term business interests of the same telecomm carriers who paradoxically oppose any connectivity efforts using what is known as “unlicensed spectrum.” The results? An Internet penetration of only 14 million users among a global population of over 103 million Mexicans.
“A sustainable rural connectivity project with a grassroots community development plan could fly using free spectrum to reduce costs of broadband access… Millions of fellow Mexicans — who live in conditions you wouldn’t even imagine in the 21st century — are worth some creative thinking.” - This is what keeps me motivated. Otherwise it is so easy for me to start questioning myself and what the hell i’m doing with this thesis project. One thing I am realizing is that the importance is by making a difference on the micro-level, something small and effective, and thinking of a strong sustainable solution, which can be easily replicated.