Will Facebook’s OpenCellular Boost Remote Internet Access?

[Commentary] Facebook’s recently-introduced OpenCellular project hopes to deliver wireless Internet access to the 10 per cent of the world’s population that lives in the most remote places – outside the range of existing cellular networks, and with no access to the Internet.

OpenCellular is linked to a flurry of recent Facebook projects to connect the 4 billion still unconnected. These include the Telecom Infra Project to develop new infrastructure access and backhaul – and Aquila, a solar-powered drone with the potential to be instrumental in adding services outside of existing network reach. While the moves are expected to help improve lives, they are also important for Facebook’s market growth. OpenCellular is not expected to face the same regulatory hurdles as Facebook’s “Free Basics” which was banned in India. OpenCellular is less likely to have network neutrality challenges. Instead of enabling multi-tiered services, it is a low-cost, flexible and durable way for service providers to provide cellular and wireless Internet connection speeds where it was not viable to do so until now. However, there are challenges for Facebook to expand further use of its social networking site, and the benefits from the new OpenCellular hardware-based initiative won’t be immediate.

[Mathas writes for the LED and Wireless Networking Design Centers on EDN]