Yesterday (or the day before, I don’t really remember) the BBC reported that Finland had become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for each citizen.
From the 1st of this month, people in Finland have the right to a 1Mbps connection, with an aim for each person to have access to a 100Mbps broadband line by 2015.
This means that telecommunication companies would have to offer at minimum 1Mbps broadband connections to customers.
In explaining the decision, Finland’s communication minister Suvi Linden said this:
“We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment.”
I’m feeling fairly lazy (had a night out last night, zzz) so please pardon the lower quality of writing and shorter length, but I’ll just say a few words on this.
Hopefully this decision paves the trail for other countries to follow. I especially hope that Australia takes note – our broadband infrastructure s horribly behind compared to our Asian friends, for one…
It also touches on how the Internet has now become a part of our lives. It is integrated into our routine – wake up in the morning and check your e-mails and news online. Look up movie times, public transport timetables. Talk to relatives overseas. Even do your shopping.
We’re only just beginning to really tap into using the internet to the best of its ability as a communication platform. The possible implications of Finland’s decision are big, especially for news. I honestly hope things go well for them, and I look forward to some decent broadband back here at home in a few years.
