Wireless Broadband Access to Bridge the Digital Divide (Textbooks in Telecommunication Engineering)

This textbook discusses the global digital divide and explores strategies to address it through communication engineering. The author focuses on wireless broadband access, theories, and the broader ecosystem shaping the digital divide challenge. The book first provides an overview of the current digital divide along with its inherent challenges. The author then explains the complexity of the issue and how one solution will not apply to all situations. The author emphasizes the need for a combination of technologies (terrestrial and non-terrestrial) and strategies to sustainably bridge the gap. The author delves into how access gap- and usage gap needs to be addressed by understanding the regional contexts in terms of demand, digital literacy and adoption, existing technologies, and affordability. This understanding informs the development of tailored collaborative approaches that are feasible across technological, economic, and governance dimensions.

This book provides in-depth insights into enabling technologies, network architecture, techno-economic modeling, and environmental modeling that support the development of scalable business models. The author goes on to provide insights in terms of accessibility, affordability, and availability of the potential approaches. This book features studies of ongoing project trials across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, offering insights into approaches for bridging the global digital divide. The book equips the reader with the knowledge to evaluate and implement inclusive digital ecosystems for all. Classroom material includes questions, exercises, slides for course instructors, solutions, projects, and assignments. This book is suitable for senior undergraduates, graduates, advanced graduates, practicing engineers, industry researchers, policymakers, regulators, and anyone who is working towards connecting the unconnected.

• Offers a multifaceted approach combining cutting-edge technologies with a governance framework to address the global divide;
• Showcases approaches employed by stakeholders to bridge the access and usage gaps worldwide;
• Includes models to assess wireless broadband networks and initiatives for connecting the unconnected region-wise;
• Presents ground, air, and space wireless broadband, assessing accessibility, affordability, and climate;
• Explores technological trials worldwide to motivate students, researchers, and professionals to explore solutions.

Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar is a Research and Innovation Associate with StrathSDR lab at University of Strathclyde and serves as Associate Consultant with Real Wireless and Technical Consultant with Cenerva. She also works as an independent consultant, specializing in rural telecommunication, techno-economic feasibility assessment, sustainability frameworks, resilient infrastructure, disaster resilience, and educational outreach. She was a Visiting Faculty member with George Mason University, Fairfax, USA. She earned her Ph.D. degree from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK in 2023, and holds a bachelor’s degree from GITAM university, Hyderabad, India in 2016.