Fixed broadband subscriptions are set to jump nearly 50% in the Middle East and Africa, and more than 37% in Latin America, by the end of 2030. These regions are the ones with the most room for growth, as they’ve only recently gained access to fixed broadband.

A new study claims universal broadband access could add $160B to the US economy annually. As one of the first clear estimates of expanded broadband’s economic benefit, the study could help drive support for President Biden’s proposed $65 billion in broadband spending.

Telecoms vs New York: Organizations representing the US’ major telecoms have challenged a New York state law requiring ISPs to provide affordable broadband. The lawsuit could definitively determine whether states can regulate broadband pricing.

The National Rural Broadband Association said providers can’t get 30% to 40% of the needed equipment to install broadband. ISPs say they are waiting up to 71 weeks for fiber to be delivered.

The news: The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s 2021 State of Broadband report found that 3.7 billion people are not connected to the net—even though 85% of them live within range of a mobile network. This finding underscores the need for public policy to shift from focusing on connectivity to ensuring access to affordable devices and services, per The Register.

Among US adults overall, 26% indicated that their lack of access to high-speed internet or broadband is an obstacle when using telehealth services, per a Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) study from June and July 2021. Those living in rural areas were much more likely to cite this as a barrier compared with nonrural respondents.

The National Rural Broadband Association said that providers can’t get 30 to 40% of the needed equipment to install broadband. This includes new fiber, which ISPs are waiting up to 71 weeks to be delivered. What's next? Various industries are starting to feel the squeeze of pandemic-related shortages.

Amazon has enrolled millions of devices without user consent, potentially exposing private Wi-Fi networks and user data, and using customers bandwidth to connect.

But many patients, especially those in rural areas, lack or have insufficient home broadband connectivity. More than 5%, or 18 million people in the US, lack access to broadband—and this figure jumps to 20.7% in rural areas, according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data cited in a November 2020 Pew article.

5G stands for the “fifth-generation standard” for broadband cellular networks. This standard was created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a consortium of international telecommunications partners.

5G stands for the “fifth-generation standard” for broadband cellular networks. These standards are created by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a consortium of international telecommunications partners.

Competition is heating up outside of the US as well: Earlier this year, the Chinese government created a state-backed company called the China Satellite Network Group Co with plans to operate a 13,000-satellite broadband constellation. The takeaway: The Facebook team acquisition will inject Amazon with the expertise and resources needed to quickly play catch up with its competitors.

For example, SpaceX’s satellite broadband service, Starlink, is expected to be comparable in quality with fixed-broadband internet and plans to provide services to underserved populations. Amazon’s Project Kuiper announced a partnership with Verizon to provide connections between rural cell towers and core internet operations.