CNET: Google parent Alphabet to shut down Loon, its internet-beaming balloon project. “The project was born out of X, Alphabet’s self-described moonshot factory for experimental projects, which has also developed the company’s driverless car and delivery drone services. Alphabet, however, deemed Loon’s business model unsustainable and said it couldn’t get costs low enough to continue […]
BBC: Uganda election: Internet restored but social media blocked. “Ugandans are celebrating the resumption of internet services after a shutdown was imposed ahead of last week’s election. However, social media platforms remain blocked and are only accessible using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).”
Reuters: Uganda bans social media ahead of presidential election. “Uganda banned social media and beefed up security in the capital on Tuesday, two days ahead of a presidential election pitting Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, against opposition frontrunner Bobi Wine, a popular singer.”
Techdirt: The Cost Of Broadband Is Too Damned High. “How much do consumers pay for internet service in the United States? The question might seem relatively simple, but the answer has stymied the federal government for years—because no agency collects this data. Throughout 2020, my organization, New America’s Open Technology Institute, published the Cost of […]
Engadget: Google AI is now piloting Loon’s internet-beaming balloons. “Alphabet’s Loon has shifted to a different type of navigation system for its internet-beaming balloons. Rather than relying on algorithms designed by humans, the balloons are using an artificial intelligence system Loon developed with Google AI over the last few years.”
CPJ: Cuban authorities harass journalists, block social media amid protests. “Since November 26, amid protests following the arrest of artist Denis Solís of the San Isidro Movement, a local freedom of expression and artistic freedom group, Cuban authorities have obstructed members of the press from doing their jobs, and have intermittently blocked access to Facebook, […]
The Korea Herald: Korea to tighten grip on global internet giants amid service complaints. “A law revision set to take effect next week will tighten rules for data-hungry internet giants, such as Netflix Inc., amid growing calls for stable services. Earlier this week, the Cabinet passed an amendment to the ordinance of the Telecommunication Business […]
Neowin: UK government sets less ambitious gigabit broadband goal. “The UK’s Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced that the country’s original plan to bring gigabit broadband to every home in the country by 2025 has been scaled back so that the technology will be available in 85% of residences. While those in towns and cities around […]
Neowin: Amazon Sidewalk is coming to turn your network into Amazon’s. “Today, Amazon started notifying Echo and Ring users of a new service that it’s rolling out this year called Sidewalk. Sidewalk is essentially a proprietary shared network that runs on top of your personal network. According to the company, it uses a ‘small portion […]
Eurasianet: In remote, offline Kyrgyzstan, the best of the internet comes in a box. “The internet has never had a year like 2020. With the pandemic forcing people everywhere to retreat into their homes, our lives are virtual like never before. But what if you don’t have internet access? For schoolchildren in remote parts of […]
Washington Post: Ethiopia’s cracking down in Tigray. But activists are spreading the news.. “In the early hours of Nov. 4, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed shut down telecommunications and deployed troops to his country’s northern Tigray region. Shortly after, a flurry of new Twitter accounts appeared and began to tweet about the situation. By the […]
CNN: A fourth-grader walked to school to use its WiFi because he didn’t have internet at home. “A fourth-grader in Roswell, New Mexico, has been walking to his shuttered elementary school to do his classwork over the building’s WiFi because he didn’t have internet access at home. Schools in the Roswell Independent School District have […]
AgriPulse: New tool locates Wi-Fi hot spots in rural communities. “A new interactive map from the American Connection Project (ACP) makes it easier to find free internet connectivity across the nation. The new map includes locations of 2,300 free Wi-Fi hot spots across 49 states with the hope of adding more sites in the coming […]
EurekAlert: Internet connectivity is oxygen for research and development work. “Fast and reliable internet access is fundamental for research and development activity around the world. Seamless connectivity is a privilege we often take for granted. But in developing nations, technological limitations can become stumbling blocks to efficient communication and cause significant disadvantages.”
Voice of America: App Allowing Chinese Citizens to Access Global Internet Quickly Disappears. “A mobile app launched last week in China that many there hoped would allow access to long banned Western social media sites abruptly disappeared from Chinese app stores a day after its unveiling.”