Inside the "Next Billion" Forum

A number of CEOs and telecom experts came to Harvard Law School to discuss the future of extending Internet access to the "Next Billion" users. The afternoon session focused on case studies, including a business initiative to provide cell phone service in rural India and Stanford's Digital Vision Program. The Director of Digital Vision, Stuart Gannes, argued that connecting the next billion Internet users will mostly be driven by shifting demographics: the combination of increasing urbanization and the high percentage of youth in the world's population will push rapid expansion of Internet access. Gannes pointed to a project in the Dominican Republic that involved the creation of hydroelectric power system to allow Internet access (see this report for more information). Also, read Judith Meskill's blog post for more specifics about the event.