BBC World Service South Asia

The Real Story

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Politics

Global experts and decision makers discuss, debate and analyse a key news story.

The Real Story: Getting the World Online

Factual

Getting the World Online

12/02/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Getting the World Online

What's the best strategy for widening global access to the internet?

Billions of the world’s poorest people have no access to the internet.  Connectivity is growing fast in many parts of the globe, but not everywhere. In large parts of Africa and South Asia, for example, the barriers to joining the information age are simply too great.  So why has the Indian government just banned Facebook and others from operating free-access platforms to provide internet access?  And why do some of the most influential advocates of a free-for-all internet support the Indian ban?  In this week’s Newshour Extra, Owen Bennett Jones and his guests discuss why it matters that the world’s poorest are able to use the internet, and ask what can be done to achieve universal access for all?

Photo credit: Getty Images

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Real Story

Getting the World Online

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service