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Over 4 billion people will go without internet access this year
The tech industry likes to talk a lot about a connected world, but just how many people are online, really? Most of them aren't, unfortunately. The United Nations' Broadband Commission has released a 2015 report which estimates that 57 percent of the human population (about 4.2 billion people) won't have regular internet access by the end of 2015. Not surprisingly, the likelihood that you'll have access is highly dependent on your economic and social opportunities. Over 80 percent of people in fully developed countries currently have connections, but that number plummets to 6.7 percent in the poorest nations; gender inequality only makes it worse.
Cisco is optimizing networks for Apple devices
Apple isn't content to expand its foothold in the workplace solely through major app deals and developer initiatives -- it wants corporate networks to be Apple-friendly as well. The Cupertino crew has teamed up with Cisco to optimize enterprise networks for iOS devices and apps, especially Cisco-made videoconferencing and collaboration tools. It's not hard to see why the two would forge a deal. This theoretically boosts iPhone and iPad sales to companies that want the smoothest possible experience, especially if they have thousands of users crowding their networks. Cisco, meanwhile, stands a better shot at selling network hardware and software to firms that are already set on using Apple gear. It may be hard to notice the change unless you're an IT manager, but you shouldn't be surprised if your next company-issued device has a fruit logo on the back.
AT&T helped the NSA spy on the UN's internet traffic (updated)
It's no secret that telecoms have cooperated with the US' surveillance efforts, but at least one was unusually eager to help out. Thanks to Edward Snowden leaks, both the New York Times and ProPublica have discovered that AT&T not only agreed to aid the National Security Agency's spying campaigns for decades, but has shown an "extreme willingness" to participate. It was the first to start forwarding internet metadata (like email participants) to the NSA in 2003, and was quick to offer call metadata in 2011. Moreover, AT&T helped the NSA snoop on the all of the internet traffic at the United Nations' New York City headquarters -- Snowden's leaks had previously revealed that the UN monitoring was taking place, but not the carrier involved.
Drones may get better cell service thanks to an old ambulance
Aerial internet connections will likely be crucial for courier drones and other robotic aircraft, but modern-day cell towers are usually designed to serve people on the ground, not machines in the skies. What to do? Carnegie Mellon researchers might have an answer. They've converted an old ambulance into a full cellular network, and they're using it to test connections to quadcopter drones carrying phones on their stomachs. As it turns out, in-air wireless links aren't that reliable using current technology -- you need to point the antennas upward, and the signals propagate differently above a cell site than they do below.
Google Fiber joins the White House's low-income broadband efforts
Google Fiber has a few inroads into less fortunate homes, such as its not-quite-free 5Mbps service, but it's still largely aimed at more affluent households. That's going to change very shortly, however: the White House has revealed ConnectHome, an effort that will bring free or inexpensive ($10 per month) broadband from Google, Sprint and other providers to over 275,000 low-income families in public housing. In Google's case, the service will be available in four of the 28 communities covered by the initiative (Atlanta, Durham, Kansas City and Nashville). All current and future Fiber cities will eventually offer similar service, too.
WiFi devices will soon talk to each other before they connect
WiFi-equipped gadgets don't really say anything to each other before they connect, which limits what they can do -- you can't use them as Bluetooth-like smart beacons, or quickly find who's sharing photos. All that's going to change soon, though, thanks to the newly unveiled WiFi Aware spec. The technology has devices swapping tiny messages about their services when they detect each other, making it easy to send alerts and connect only to those devices you care about. You could quickly find nearby rivals for a multiplayer game, for example, or get a notification about a sale when you wander by a preferred store. And no, battery life shouldn't take a hit. Although WiFi Aware can run in the background, its use of a common "heartbeat" for the sync process could actually make it more efficient than conventional WiFi.
Comcast's 2Gbps internet costs you up to $299 per month
Are you determined to trump your Google Fiber-toting friends by signing up for Comcast's 2Gbps Gigabit Pro service? You'd better have deep pockets. The telecom has revealed pricing for its multi-gigabit data tier, and it'll cost you up to an eye-watering $299 per month. Comcast is testing a more reasonable $159 per month (on a 2-year contract) in Chattanooga and other cities, but it's still patently obvious that Pro is aimed at the speed-at-all-costs crowd. The rate also doesn't factor in gotchas like the activation and installation fees, which can cost up to $500 each.
Google adapter puts your Chromecast on wired networks
As good as Google's Chromecast is at putting streaming video on a big screen, its dependence on WiFi can be a problem -- just ask anyone who's struggled to play YouTube on a barely-connected basement TV. Thank goodness Google has just rolled out a Chromecast Ethernet adapter, then. It's really a glorified power brick, but the $15 add-on should give you a rock-solid data link wherever your set happens to be. It could also be a lifesaver for those places where wireless just isn't an option, such as a behind-the-times hotel or boardroom. While the adapter is only available in the US right now (sort of -- it's already sold out), it's easy to see this shipping elsewhere in the near future.
United grounds all its flights due to a network glitch (updated)
We really, really hope you didn't have to take a United Airlines flight this morning. The air carrier temporarily grounded all its flights due to a networking glitch that created "automation issues" across its fleet. United started returning things to normal around 9:20AM Eastern (initially for regional carriers), but not before it created serious chaos -- there are reports of staff having to write boarding passes and baggage tickets, not to mention flight delays that will likely continue throughout the day. It's not yet clear what exactly is at fault. However, this is the second time in as many months that the airline has had to bring everything to a screeching halt due to a network failure. That doesn't mean that you're looking at a systemic flaw, but it definitely underscores the importance of reliable transportation tech. Update: United blames its woes on a router that "degraded network connectivity" with some apps. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
22 Massachusetts towns will build their own gigabit internet service
The FCC made it clear that towns should have the freedom to build their own broadband services, and one cooperative group is determined to take advantage of that liberty. WiredWest has gained the support of 22 Massachusetts towns for a municipal broadband effort that will give them all fiber optic service. It won't be the cheapest option, but it'll be much faster than the pokey DSL, fixed wireless and satellite data that residents have had to settle for in the past. It'll start at $49 per month for 25Mbps speeds and no caps, with 100Mbps and a lightning-quick 1Gbps respectively available for $79 and $109 per month.
Cisco buys a DNS provider to protect you in the cloud
When you think of internet security from Cisco, you probably imagine firewalls and routers (usually) stopping hackers and malware from hitting your network. You're going to have to expand that definition very shortly, though. Cisco has snapped up OpenDNS, whose domain name services you might have used to dodge regional restrictions or improve on your internet provider's less-than-stellar connection. The networking giant isn't making the acquisition for any of those reasons, though. Instead, it's all about boosting Cisco's cloud security -- the goal is to defend against attacks on your corporate network wherever you happen to be, and to predict threats before they strike.
Google's urban tech lab is working on free, city-wide WiFi
When Google unveiled its urban improvement initiative, Sidewalk Labs, it left one big question: what was this new outfit actually working on? As of today, you should have a good idea. Sidewalk and a group of investors have bought and merged two key companies behind LinkNYC, an effort to offer free, public WiFi across New York City. The combined entity, Intersection, will extended LinkNYC's internet-for-all technology to cities worldwide. Ideally, you'll one day "walk down any street" and expect to get fast wireless data. That sounds more than a little ambitious, but it makes sense given Google's sheer clout and desire for a ubiquitous internet. The easier it is for you to hop online, the easier it is for Google to serve up its money-making ads.
Opera Max for Android starts saving data when you're on WiFi
Opera's data compression was originally meant to get the most out of thimble-sized cellular plans, but you'd probably agree that WiFi matters, too. After all, you've likely had that moment when you were struggling to visit websites on a lousy public hotspot. Mercifully, relief is in sight: an updated version of Opera Max for Android now squeezes app data even when you're on WiFi, helping you save bandwidth no matter what connection you're using. You can manage cellular and WiFi data separately, and there's an equally new blocking option if you need to put a particularly greedy app on ice for a while. Snag the upgrade today if you find that fast, unfettered internet access is sometimes hard to come by.
The internet risks hitting peak capacity soon, but it can be saved
The internet has more than one capacity problem to worry about, apparently. Researchers met in London this week to tackle growing concerns that fiber optic cables, which represent the internet's backbone, are hitting their physical limits. An Alcatel-Lucent representative warned that we could hit this barrier, about 100 terabits per second, in five years -- not good news when 8K video and other data-hungry technologies are just over the horizon. The only conventional solution would be to add more cables, which isn't always practical.
The US runs out of old-school internet addresses this summer
The conventional internet address is about to go the way of the dodo... at least, in the US and Canada. According to estimates, North America will run out of IPv4 addresses (the familiar 1.2.3.4 format) this summer. While some companies might stall this by letting go of IPv4 numbers they don't use, many others will have little choice but to move to IPv6 (hexadecimals) if they want to add new addresses on their networks. The newer standard is already in widespread use, so don't worry about an imminent meltdown. Facebook wouldn't even be functioning unless it had already migrated a lot of servers to IPv6, for instance.
More telecom groups sue to kill the FCC's net neutrality rules
It's clearer than ever that the US telecom establishment really, really doesn't like the FCC's new net neutrality regulation. AT&T and multiple industry groups (all from cable and phone businesses) have filed lawsuits trying to kill the new utility-like rules, claiming that they violate everything from procedural laws to the Constitution. In some cases, the language is eerily similar to the US Telecom Association suit that kicked things off -- the American Cable Association even rehashes language describing the measures as "arbitrary" and "capricious." However the organizations word things, the FCC is definitely going to find out whether its attempt to protect the open internet is as lawsuit-proof as promised. [Image credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images]
Carrier alliance sues to stop net neutrality rules
That didn't take long. The FCC's tougher net neutrality rules have only just been published in the federal register, and the lawsuits are already pouring in. The US Telecom Association has filed a suit claiming that the utility-style regulation of internet access is an "arbitrary and capricious" violation of US law. As you'd expect, the carriers still say they embrace net neutrality -- they just want the previous "light-touch" enforcement that has supposedly worked so far. We're sure that Netflix and other challengers would beg to differ, but that's now a matter for the courts to decide. [Image credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images]
Coding marathon will help Cubans skirt internet restrictions
Cuba's government might be loosening its grip on internet access in the country, but non-profit group Roots of Hope isn't waiting around for that trickle of information to turn into a flood. It's holding a Code for Cuba hackathon to develop tools that help residents get things done while dodging online restrictions. The event, which kicks off April 25th at Facebook's headquarters, will give prizes to those with solutions that are not only effective, but deal with a tough Cuban reality where connections are slow, scarce and heavily censored.
Google Fiber is launching in Salt Lake City
You no longer have to head to Provo if you want Google Fiber in Utah -- Google has revealed that it's bringing its gigabit internet access to the state's capital, Salt Lake City. The company is short on details, but it won't have a ready-made fiber network to use this time around. SLC's fiber network is still in the design phase, much like those in Atlanta, Nashville and North Carolina, so you could be waiting a while before you have a chance to sign up. Nonetheless, this is a good sign. Even if you don't live in the area, it suggests that Google is picking up the pace on its once-cautious Fiber rollouts and is more likely to bring extra-fast data to your city.
Cuba approves its first free public WiFi
Public internet access in Cuba usually comes at a steep price -- a local may have to use a week's wages just to spend an hour emailing their family overseas. However, they now have a much, much more reasonable option. The country's state-run telecom, ETECSA, recently approved the country's first free public WiFi. Cubans who can reach a cultural center in Havana can now use the shared DSL line of a well-known artist (Kcho) as much as they want. The 2Mbps connection is pokey by most standards, but the no-cost approach means that locals don't have to give up what spending power they have just to get online.
