Outernet, the saviour of the Internet or another big brother
Just last month, the Internet, the blogosphere and even mainstream news outlets were all abuzz with stories of the Outernet, a free wifi network beamed all over the world from outer space via hundreds of 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm ‘CubeSat’ Low Earth Orbit iniature satellites, which will initially test deploy in a matter of weeks. Full deployment, according to media reports, will only occur in about three years, or whenever its parent, New York-based not-for-profit Media Development Investment Fund, finds the total project funding of US$12 billion.
To some, it was a no-brainer that this ambitious, altruistic next gen concept would quickly capture the imagination of Netizens the world over, many of whom are already vocal to say the least, typically when it comes to demanding change in terms of the cost of data as well as any type of censorship currently restricting access to the Internet’s worldview shifting content. In fact, the Outernet publicity machine itself has put forward a startling statistic to highlight the need for this service. Astoundingly, “less than 40 per cent of the global population has access to the wealth of knowledge found on the Internet”, states outernet.is (website). No matter who is to be believed, it is a given that there are vast populations the world over that cannot access either many parts of the Internet (e.g. censorship in China and North Korea) or even the network itself (e.g. due to the high cost of data or the lack of infrastructure in rural areas in many areas of the Indian subcontinent and Africa).
Is this project viable? According to a recent Q&A hosted on social network Reddit with Outernet Project Lead Syed Karim; “We have a very solid understand(ing) of the costs involved, as well as experience working on numerous spacecraft”. This is, of course, despite media reports estimating it would cost between $100,000 and $300,000 to get just one ‘CubeSat’ into orbit.
But, even if it is technically viable, the question remains: Is the Outernet project the right one to meet this urgent need for global access to the Internet? What some believe should emerge as the next universal right for humankind. Despite the altruism of the project and it being backed by a not-for-profit, many commentators are frightened off by the Outernet’s initial plans for this network to be just a one-way broadcast. Says, outernet.is; “Broadcasting data allows citizens to reduce their reliance on costly Internet data plans in places where monthly fees are too expensive for average citizens. And offering continuously updated web content from space bypasses censorship of the Internet. An additional benefit of a unidirectional information network is the creation of a global notification system during emergencies and natural disasters… Although Outernet’s near-term goal is to provide the entire world with broadcast data, the long-term vision includes the addition of two-way Internet access for everyone. For free”. Even with the caveat that “[by] transmitting digital content to mobile devices, simple antennae, and existing satellite dishes, a basic level of news, information, education, and entertainment will be available to all of humanity”, with initial plans citing access to items like crop prices for farmers, bitcoin block-chains, Wikipedia and Khan Academy amongst other content.
And the outernet.is website also adds that anyone may, “through SMS and feature-phone apps, participate in building the information priority list. Users of Outernet’s website also make suggestions for content to broadcast; lack of an Internet connection should not prevent anyone from learning about current events, trending topics, and innovative ideas”.
However, is that enough to guarantee that the Outernet project, once it truly launches, doesn’t get hijacked by vested interests, or is even just bought over by a huge multinational whose ultimate goal is, through brute force, taking control of the content that may ultimately be broadcast with a potential reach numbering in the billions? So far, cautious optimism may be the best way to look at this project which many are already calling impossible.