Thailand must prepare itself to withstand and recover from potential future global pandemics. Providing free internet will enable all Thais, regardless of income level or location, to learn, access government services, utilize public health services, engage in all forms of e-commerce, and work remotely when possible. This will help reduce pollution and energy consumption, leveraging the digital economy as a representative of both the real economy and the financial sector.

Jack Ma stated in an interview with CGTN in May 2020, "...there will be significant changes in both the Chinese and global economies after the COVID-19 outbreak. The internet was once just a tool to improve work methods, but it is becoming the heart of business development. When we return to normal operations, there is no doubt that internet-related businesses will be the fastest-growing sector. The internet and e-commerce will become the new infrastructure driving both the Chinese and global economies. The internet is the technology of the future that integrates the real economy (production) with the digital economy. Just as electricity was once the core of economic development, the internet is now playing that role. Living without the internet is no longer possible for countries, businesses, or individuals today. The global pandemic has sent a strong signal to the global economy, policymakers, and entrepreneurs in China, proving that we must improve the economy through technology..."

In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressing question is how Thailand can navigate this global crisis and what measures should be taken for future outbreaks. Options to consider include creating a social and economic system that can withstand such impacts and survive (resilience). This social system requires international cooperation while also reducing external dependencies (decoupling) and fostering self-sufficiency at local or regional levels (sustainable local and regional systems), moving away from traditional structures focused solely on production and consumption efficiency, which have led to imbalances in human-environment relationships.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public witnessed a rapid shift to digital systems across nearly all types of work. This began with the use of the internet for remote meetings and education, evolving into changes in business models towards online sales of goods and food, and utilizing delivery systems via motorcycles and online-connected vehicles. A crucial next step is using the internet for telemedicine, which will enhance public health services' coverage. Accessing the internet, whether through mobile devices, Wi-Fi, satellites, or any communication lines, raises the important issue of who bears the associated costs. As the internet has become a public utility, requiring citizens to pay for internet access based on their financial capacity may not maximize societal benefits, as it could exacerbate digital inequality between those who have better access and those who do not or have limited access. This digital divide has been discussed for over twenty years, but today it is more relevant to daily life, education, public health, and everyone's work than ever before.

Emerging technology supporting internet access includes Elon Musk's Starlink project, which is in the testing phase to provide internet service globally by 2021, starting with a constellation of microsatellites in low orbit approximately 500 km above Earth. The plan involves launching 4,000 satellites (out of a long-term goal of 40,000) to provide high-quality signals, and when satellites fall out of orbit, they can be replaced periodically, reducing the need for ground-based mobile cell sites.

The goal of national broadband policies in most countries, including Thailand, over the past decade has been to create opportunities for education, communication, and participation in national development from all sectors. Access to broadband is the first step towards internet access, which has become a key tool for enabling countries to compete internationally by expanding business and marketing frameworks, making it indispensable.

The UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimated that by the end of 2018, out of a global population of 7 billion, only 51% had internet access. According to a report by The World Wide Web Foundation, "affordability" is the most significant barrier to internet access, defining affordable pricing as "no more than two percent of the average monthly income of the population for one gigabyte of data (one billion characters)." It is estimated that at least 2.3 billion people worldwide still cannot afford internet access today.

The number of people without internet access will gradually decrease as technology becomes cheaper. However, the expansion of internet services has slowed in recent years, which may serve as a warning that universal internet access may not be achievable without international support for poorer countries. Research from the University of Birmingham indicates that universal internet access does not necessarily have to be expensive—activities like information searching, online grouping, or sending and receiving emails do not require the latest technology but should start with basic public health services and expand from there. There will still be issues to address concerning security, personal data protection, and individual privacy, especially when the government plays a role in providing free internet services.

A research report from the Center for Economics and Business Research noted that in 2019, access to high-quality internet from anywhere in the UK would yield economic returns, estimating a reduction of up to 300 million commuting trips annually, a decrease of 3 billion kilometers traveled by car, and a reduction of nearly 360,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Full-fiber broadband networks could increase rural economic productivity by £59 million by 2025, creating an additional 500,000 jobs and allowing the population to return to rural areas while maintaining their urban jobs. Currently, only 8-10% of homes in the UK are connected to fiber networks, compared to 97% in Japan and 98% in South Korea. However, internet access does not have to be limited to fiber optics, as fixed wireless and satellite options exist, even if they may not be as fast.

A 2019 study from the University of Birmingham showed that the internet is key to protecting fundamental human rights. Online movements have compelled society to take responsibility, such as the #MeToo movement in 2018, which highlighted violence against women by powerful men, and the #BlackLivesMatter movement that emerged in May 2020, showcasing injustice and violence against African American individuals through video evidence.

Access to free internet in many countries is now considered a human right, as citizens unable to enter the online world lack the means to disseminate information that could help them solve problems. Political participation is increasingly occurring online, and fundamental freedoms that may have been overlooked, such as freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to assemble, will not be equitable if some people have access while others do not.

In recent years, many countries have set goals for the state to cover costs to guarantee these human rights for their populations. For example:
    2001 Estonia declared internet access as part of human rights.
    2009 France's highest court ruled that internet access is a human right.
    2010 Finland declared a legal right for citizens to access public utilities, including high-speed broadband networks, implying the ability to access the internet wherever broadband is available.
    2015 the United Nations recognized universal internet access as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    2016 the United Nations Human Rights Council affirmed that any rights citizens have offline must also be protected online.
    2017 Canada declared the internet a vital service for quality of life, which all citizens have the right to access.
    2019 Kerala, India, declared universal internet access a human right, aiming to cover a population of 35 million by 2019.
    2019 in the UK, the Labour Party campaigned to provide fiber networks to 15-18 million households with a budget of £15 billion (the Conservative Party proposed a similar plan at a smaller scale with a budget of £5 billion) and an estimated annual maintenance cost of £230 million for the network.
    2020 the European Union launched the WiFi4EU initiative to provide internet access via free Wi-Fi in essential daily life activities for populations in all villages and towns in Europe by 2020.

In summary: Countries that understand the importance and benefits of using the internet to foster innovation that benefits the economy, society, and the environment will advance rapidly and realize their development goals sooner than others. The primary role of us citizens, who endorse policies preparing for the future, is to "do no harm" while also preparing the infrastructure for future generations. It is essential for the state to either provide or support private entities in delivering effective and equitable access to free internet for all citizens, regardless of their location in the country.


Article for the Public Policy Review Column
Wednesday, June 17
Dr. Rom Hirunphakdi

 

SOURCE: www.thaipost.net