The Innovation Ultimatum

6Connecting Everything and Everyone

5G Networks and Satellite Constellations

In the last decade or so, we have come to understand the benefits of being connected. Our phones lose most of their utility when we switch them into airplane mode. Being connected allows us to access incredible troves of information, to connect with the people we care about, and to use the amazing capability of the cloud.

Not being connected is a major disadvantage. While over half of the world's population is now online, billions of people still have no access to the services that many of us take for granted, including financial services. The ability to save, make payments, and gain access to credit is fundamental to enabling a billion people to lift themselves out of poverty. Connectivity matters.

For farmers in southeast Asia, internet access means access to information, and information is power. Farmers need to know which crops to plant, when to plant them, and how to improve crop yields. Most importantly, farmers need to know the fair market price for their crops. Internet connectivity empowers them to negotiate from a position of strength when selling to intermediaries who might otherwise try to rip them off. Internet access enables people to learn more about the world, about other cultures, and to raise their level of education. Sites like YouTube hold a remarkable mount of high-quality educational material, all available for free. Whether you're trying to brush up on machine learning, learn ...