Are Public-Private Partnerships the Key to Expanding Internet Accessibility?
As a species, humans have progressed rapidly over the last half-century towards a world of information. The rise of the internet has changed the expectations and ability of learning and communicating. Although this change does seem ubiquitous, a large portion of the population still lacks consistent internet access. This discrepancy lies in the profitability and feasibility of building ground infrastructure for wireless broadband. Now, however, with the rise of the commercial space industry partnering with nations throughout the globe, orbital satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geospatial-Earth Orbit (GEO) have the capacity to revolutionize internet accessibility. In accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 17, Partnerships, countries and private companies are at a precipice to expand internet accessibility.