Communications Technology: Global Information Infrastructure

New gaps?
As investment in telecommunications infrastructure increases, the gap between information haves and have nots may become based on price and choice, rather than technology. Countries that continue to favor telecommunications monopolies, or seek to control access to information, may limit user access even where technology is available. In most of Europe, access to the Internet is much more expensive than in North America. As one commentator states: "Digital Europe has many medieval features: road tolls and extortion-like taxes, witch hunts, an oppressed citizenry, and powers-that-be in feudal towers." Access is much less affordable in many developing countries. Even professionals in many African countries cannot afford to use telecommunications services.
China may be the world's largest market for telecommunications, but the government is reluctant to allow access to information from abroad. Although credited with introducing market reforms in the Chinese economy, Deng Xiaoping voiced his ambivalence about opening China's doors to the world: "When the door opens, some flies are bound to come in." Government attempts to control access include banning satellite antennas, blocking access to Internet sites, and impeding access to the Internet itself and to other means of electronic communication.
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