As businesses and countries worldwide position themselves to leverage the Internet economy, that economy is changing. In its latest Global Internet Report, the Internet Society examines the extent to which consolidation of the Internet economy has been occurring. In our discussion with Carl Gahnberg, of the Internet Society, we discuss the key findings of the report, and possible implications for developing countries, and for entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

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With all of the commercial activity that occurs online, we have all heard terms, such as the ‘digital economy’ and the ‘Internet economy’. Further, many of our countries have expressed an interest in participating and leveraging the digital economy, and to varying degrees, are actively fostering initiatives to achieve it. However, the Internet has been and continues to evolve. Hence, it is crucial for countries to continually monitor the state of the Internet, to ensure that their policies and programmes remain aligned with that changing paradigm.

Historically, the Internet had been envisaged as, among other things, a connection of networks that are open transparent, unbiased and high democratic. However, there appears to be evidence that the core principles of the Internet are under threat, particularly as it relates to the Internet economy, which by definition comprises “the worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by information and communications technologies” (Source:  TechTarget).

Earlier this year, the Internet Society published a report, Consolidation of the Internet Economy, which examines the extent to which consolidation of the Internet economy has been occurring. The report can be considered a high-level review of the topic; and the authors acknowledge that there is considerable scope for more intensive, follow-up research to be conducted on specific aspects or elements of the Internet economy. Nevertheless, the current report is an interesting and important read, as it not only discusses the consolidation trends that are emerging, but also some of the likely implications of that consolidation.

Carl Gahnberg (Internet Society)

To give us a primer on the report, and to help us understand the anticipated impact of the consolidation of the Internet, especially for developing countries, such as those in the Caribbean, we had a discussion Carl Gahnberg, a Policy Advisor at the Internet Society (ISOC). Carl is based in Geneva, Switzerland, where he focuses on issues related to Internet governance.

In our conversation with Carl, some of the questions posed included the following:

  1. Why did the Internet Society want to produce such a report?
  2. What are some of the key findings of the report?
  3. In what ways might the consolidation of the Internet economy affect:  the Internet economy moving forward;  developing countries;  entrepreneurship and innovation?
  4. How might regulation affect the Internet economy going forward?
  5. What are Carl’s thoughts on whether big online platforms, such as Facebook, that seem to have a monopoly, should be broken up?
  6. What are Carl’s views on the fractures in the Internet that also seem to be emerging?
  7. What are three (3) takeaways developing countries, in particular, should consider are they develop (or refine) strategies to position themselves for the Internet economy?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits:  Jean Balzan (Pexels);  C Gahnberg

Music credit:  Ray Holman