A recent UNICEF research brief estimated the level of internet access for children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, as well as the most common barriers to connecting children to the digital world and their consequences. The report classified these common barriers into three categories: infrastructure-related, resource-constrained, and adult permission-related. According to the findings, 90% of children in the five countries surveyed reported having at least one barrier to regular internet access. The most frequently mentioned barrier was the high cost of data.
The report identified three priorities for addressing the digital divide and enabling equal access to digital connectivity: investing in electricity and connectivity with a focus on marginalised communities and users; lowering the cost of connectivity and devices; and addressing cultural and social norms as barriers to address for children and adolescents.
The European Commission has announced that airlines would be able to provide 5G technologies on their planes when flying across the EU. An update to a Commission implementing decision on spectrum for mobile communications on-board aircrafts now designated certain frequencies for in-flight 5G technologies, meaning that passengers will be able to use their mobile phones for both voice and data communications while aboard flights in the EU. It appears that member states have until June 2023 to make 5G frequency bands available for planes.
Meta and Telecom Egypt, members of the 2Africa consortium, have announced the first landing of the 2Africa submarine cable at Ras Galeb in Egypt’s Red Sea, with a later landing at Port Said in the Mediterranean. The Ras Ghareb landing is one of several that will take place in the coming months as the cable is intended to cover a total of 46 sites in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
The 2Africa submarine cable system, announced in May 2020, is expected to provide seamless international connectivity for nearly 3 billion people, 36% of the world’s population, across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The 45,000 km long cable deployment is estimated to be completed in 2024.
The 2Africa consortium comprises China Mobile International, Meta, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, STC, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone, and WIOCC.
Kaspersky Security, a major security firm, has recently published its advanced threat predictions for 2023, identifying email servers and satellites as major cyberattack targets in the year 2023. The report states that 2023 will be characterised by destructive ‘cyberattacks of unprecedented gravity’ against governments, key industry providers, and high-profile civilian infrastructures. Another point of concern is the safety of underwater cables and fiber distribution hubs against physical attacks.
During the 2022 G20 Summit hosted in Bali, Indonesia, the US President Biden, Indonesian President Widodo, and European Commission President Von der Leyen co-hosted a meeting of a group of G20 leaders to ‘demonstrate their shared commitment to deepen engagement under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) to accelerate investment in quality infrastructure in low and middle income countries around the world and strengthen the global economy’. PGII – formally launched at the G7 in June 2022 – aims to support inclusive and sustainable development and benefit the partner countries’ economic security and global supply chains, among other goals.
During the meeting, President Biden announced a series of new projects, including a Trilateral Support for Digital Infrastructure in the Pacific (United States, Australia, and Japan). The project aims at supporting digital projects that will improve access to digital services and strengthen their security in the Pacific region.
The Australian Federal Court fined Telstra Corporation Ltd (Telstra), Optus Internet Pty Limited (Optus), and TPG Internet Pty Ltd (TPG) a total of AUD$33.5 million for making false or misleading representations to consumers about certain internet plans under Australia’s national broadband network (NBN).
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) headed the procedure. The court concluded the internet service providers breached the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading statements related to their 50Mbps or 100Mbps fibre to the node (FTTN) plans.
Telstra, Optus, and TPG admitted their false conduct to consumers and collaborated with the ACCC, making joint submissions to the court. The false or misleading statements affected about 120,000 consumers in 2019 and 2020.
