Broadband Is Important, But It's Not Everything

Overhype

from the string-up-the-fiber-and-wait-for-the-money dept

While we have no doubt that better broadband access can clearly help improve the economic prospects of any area by opening up a ton of business opportunities or simply making existing businesses more efficient, it is important to remember that it’s not everything. Broadband Reports points us to an article highlighting that broadband by itself, is no guarantee of economic growth. This sounds obvious, but too many places around the world simply assume that if you just add broadband, economic benefits automatically follow. It’s similar to the days back during the bubble when various cities and towns around the world would declare themselves “silicon something” and pretend that they were the next Silicon Valley after copying one small aspect of Silicon Valley — while failing to recognize that it’s a combination of many factors (most of which are not easy to copy) that made Silicon Valley what it is. So, while broadband is important, it’s not the only thing. Any area that assumes that if they just drop in broadband, economic bounties will follow is bound to be disappointed.