In remote areas of large countries, it is simply not economically feasible to lay the last mile of cable to provide Internet connections to a few isolated inhabitants. Combine that with the fact that in most parts of the world, rural areas are predominantly impoverished and you have billions of people who will never have access to the Internet or participate in the digital revolution. This is where Wi-Fi technology shows the greatest promises.

The power of Information Technology to make a significant impact on rural populations is undisputed. Wireless broadband makes access to services otherwise unavailable in rural areas possible. For example:

• Education:
Video conferencing allows the best teachers in the city to teach several classrooms at the same time bringing quality higher education to the village.

• E-Governance:
Easier access to accurate information and to services makes government more efficient and relevant and increases the effectiveness of policies.

• Healthcare:
Follow up secondary care by specialists and more efficient tracking of vaccinations can be achieved through video conference, VoIP and email in areas without even a phone line.

India is the perfect case in point. With a population of over one billion people, of whom 72% live in scattered villages in rural areas, there is a huge digital divide between the major cities which now have thriving software and IT based industries and rural areas which still struggle to obtain basic services.

For a recent demonstration on how smartBridges' products were used to connect villages in rural India and bridge the digital divide, click here .