How mobile technology affected the broadband industry
Bowling Green, KY (May 6, 2021) - Just when you thought nothing new could be invented in the decade of 2000, along came the iPhone in 2007. Steve Jobs knew early on that the public would prefer one device to play music, work as a camera, as well as function as a phone. By 2007 his vision was reality. The iPhone was revolutionary and transformed how we do business and live our daily lives. Over 2.2 billion iPhones have been sold, but what is more impressive than sales is the fact that over 1.65 billion iPhones are in use today.
How did iPhone affect the broadband industry? They spurred the internet on by doubling and tripling network usage, according to the different providers between 2007-2010. Mobile broadband became the primary way many people connected to the internet, allowing new users to join the phenomenon. It allowed rural America to participate.
In 2007, broadband usage finally picked up in rural America. Rural America was not adopting the internet at the same rate as urban America. Pew Research shows internet usage increased 24% for rural communities in 2007, which was more than it increased for urban dwellers. Rural usage was catching up with its urban counterparts.
Around 2009 and beyond, it was becoming clear that the internet was not just a luxury item and there was enough data to prove the point. Economic growth of our cities, connection to the global economy, and a better quality of life was attached to having a reliable internet connection. Although there were many people and organizations like Connected Nation stating this loudly to different governments around the world, including the U.S., it was not until the world experienced a pandemic in 2020 that it became an emergency issue. This prompted the passage of important legislation to help reach the goal of providing internet to everyone.
Connected Nation has been pleased to share our research and knowledge about internet access, adoption, and usage with legislators, and we’re proud to be a leader in helping communities become broadband knowledgeable. We have one belief – Everyone Belongs in a Connected Nation.
About the Author: Pam Waggoner is a Community Technology Advisor for Connected Nation. She coordinates and manages the activities of planning teams in support of Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program and the development of community-specific community team creation, data gathering, and technology action planning.