What is Digg?115 Comments
- bnardone, on 10/12/2007, -8/+51Macedonia — Area: 25,333 Km²
United States of America — Area: 5,984,685 miles² (9,631,418 km²) - monkeycat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+44My house doesn't even have 95% Wi-Fi coverage!
- diggeddugg, on 10/12/2007, -2/+30You don't have to cover 95% of the land, just 96% of the population
- saleens281, on 10/12/2007, -9/+35"Macedonia is the size of Vermont"
Yet with our current government being run by big business, we couldn't even get 95% of Vermont's population covered. Ma bell would be sure to step in and put the kabosh on that one.
"Macedonia — Area: 25,333 Km²
United States of America — Area: 5,984,685 miles² (9,631,418 km²)"
Right, now take a look at GDP and population. Then take a look at where "95%" of our population is concentrated. It's not that we CAN'T, it's that our government is so busy taking lobbyists bribes that they can't stop for two seconds to thinka bout what would be best for the people, not best for the corporations. Mod me down all you like but that's basically what it's become in this country. - sundancekid503, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27Well covering 95% of the US would be a much bigger task. Macedonia is tiny.
- Godric, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21"You don't have to cover 95% of the land, just 96% of the population"
Population:
United States: 295,734,134
Macedonia: 2,045,262
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html - Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15With such a small country, that's pretty easy. it's probably just one guy with a wireless hotspot
But, it's sad that the US doesn't even come close to this, and it is mainly because all of these companies want to fight over the big Wi-Fi pie. I hope Google comes along and trumps all of them - OneEye, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Nothing is "free". The service must be paid for by advertising, donations, or tax money.
The U.S. national debt is currently $ 8,372,980,679,722.84 and is climbing at a rate of $2,420,000,000 per day. I don't think a lack of Wi-Fi is our biggest problem in the U.S. - Ilyanep, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Umm...so how many percent have computers?
- jarva, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13The CIA factbook states that the country is slightly larger than Vermont, which isn't big, so this isn't as impressive as it would be if this were done in a large/industrialized country, but still good for them.
- CRG000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8They have coverage but no mention of speed, how big is the pipe?
- cfizzo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7damn america... lol.. forget wi-fi.. i'd just like a high speed connection where i live... no cable, no dsl...
- glassjoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This country, Niue, was the first ever to have 100% wi-fi internet access.
http://slashdot.org/hardware/03/06/24/0324253.shtml
It's a small island just outside of New Zealand with only about 2,000 population. - kewlrats, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7This is an incredible feat for such a small country (about the size of Vermont). I have family there and they can't wait to get wireless laptops and PCs in their homes now. The actual infrastructure is incredible, utilizing the surrounding mountains to effectively "bounce" the signals into the network.
- SuperRob, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11Gotta love percentages and how they're relative and all. You could probably cover Macedonia with just a couple routers. :)
- GiggleStick, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@aspirinetu
>> aaahhh... americans and their one-sided view of the world......
>> you need to travel a lot, guys..
The problem with that theory is, I can go 3000 miles in a straight line, and guess where I end up. The USA. Just because you haven't been to BFE apirinetu land, doesn't mean your opionon is meaningless. - Stevethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Alexander the who?
Alexander was Macedonian a.k.a. Dorian a.k.a. Greek.
Macedonians nowadays are a mixture of Slavs and Turks.
When Alexander was around the "Macedonians" were either at the nowadays called Russia-Siberia, or at Mongolia. Heck there is no connection between Macedonians and Alexander.
Literate yourself with some history lessons *****. - manitcor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5whats it matter, even at relativaly low bandwidth it would be a boon to a country like this. Considering the amount of money dumped in I wouldnt be surprised if it hovers around the speed of verizons wireless network or better.
- MarkByers, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Yeah, I'm sure one hotspot can easily cover 2 million people...
- CanuckMakem, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I heard about this a few months ago on a science podcast.... great idea... but how many have a PC with a WIFI card?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6this is still impressive; is there even a single state in the U.S. with 95% wi-fi coverage??
- GiggleStick, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6@saleens281
>> Yet with our current government being run by big business, we
>> couldn't even get 95% of Vermont's population covered. Ma bell
>> would be sure to step in and put the kabosh on that one.
If you took all the free WiFi in the US and moved it to Vermont, I'm sure it would be sufficient. The real reason is it isn't as necessary. I think there are many less options in Macedonia than here. For many, this may be their best bet for access, whereas here in the US there are many options in densley populated areas, so there's less of a need for a giant concentration of Free Wifi. - cliffzdude, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9Dudes, the country is small, tiny even. So what they have 95% coverage? What, do you think there should be wireless coverage for no-town-in-120-miles Iowa? WHY??? If you measure a country's worth on it's WiFi coverage, then YOU may need to get out into the sunlight more often...
- gr8one, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I say we ship Ed Rendell and Adelphia over to Macedonia and shut this down like they did in Philadelphia.
- shinynew, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3but do 95% of the population has wifi acess, area and population are a tad diffrent
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6ATTENTION *****!
If your government controls your internet connection, say goodbye to:
P0rn
Torrents
Usenet/Warez
IRC
Privacy
If you think that government bought and paid for internet access won't be filtered and controlled, you're ***** high. And they'll have every right to do it, because they are the ones administrating it. The stupid thing about this (and the MEEETOOO morons here who think its a good idea) is that YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT! That's right! Where do you think the government's money comes from? So, instead of paying your ISP for unfiltered, private internet access, you'd end up paying the government for controlled, censored internet access. Are you ***** stupid, or what? - werddrew, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The government provides roads, railways, and regulates air travel. These things formed the basis for interstate commerce, and still do today. These things were the "infrastructure" of our economy.
The United States is now in the business of information. We can't make cars like we used to, we're not miners, we're not making electronics. Our economy is based on knowledge, communication, and the internet. The thing that makes up the backbone of this new economy is the internet. The infrastructure of today is internet access. Fiber, copper, wireless, whatever. So it should now be the responsibility of the government to provide THIS infrastructure.
Main Entry: infrastructure
Pronunciation: 'in-fr&-"str&k-ch&r, -(")fr-
Function: noun
1 : the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization) - pferreira, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"Poor Country has 95% Wi-Fi coverage"
I'm I the only one who thinks this is a very pretentious title? Poor compared to what? Some people should learn how to watch the world beyond their own noses....
What do you know about Macedonia??? I don't know much either but I avoid assumptions... - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Why SHOULD the government provfide WiFi to everyone? That would NOT make it free!
I don't want my tax dollars going to give people WiFi when I will still choose to use better internet service and pay for it. Hi-Speed internet is NOT a right. - brickbat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Let me guess.....You're Greek...right?
- theduke01, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Wouldn't cell phone networks such as EVDO work better? WiFi is great for interiors or smaller places such as an apartment. I don't think it will work too well cruising down the highway at 60 mph.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I wouldn't say macedonia is a "poor" country... sure it's not rich but there are a LOT of countries a LOT poorer...
- dw84, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4...as does the USA
- crythias, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The average monthly wage was approximately $186 in 2004 (source: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27852.htm)
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26759.htm
Economy (As of July 1, 2005)
GDP: $5,072 billion.
Per capita GDP: $2,570 (est.).
Real GDP growth: 3.7%.
Inflation rate: 0.2%.
Unemployment rate: 37.4%.
Trade: Significant exports--steel, textile products, chromium, lead, zinc, nickel, tobacco, lamb, and wine.
Official exchange rate (2004 avg.): 49.4 Macedonian denars = U.S.$1.
Google, forinstance, has a $110 Billion market cap.
By what definition or reference do you claim this is *not* a poor country? - MihaiM, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5This sounds very good mainly because I live in Eastern Europe too and I would really like to have something like this.
- Namain, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3however, think about this senario:
I was on my way to an auction. I had an address for the place, but I had never actually been to the city before, nor was I planning on coming back any time soon. I do not own a map but I had my laptop with me. I ended up asking for directions but it would have been nice, even if it was a little slow, to be able to connect to a free WiFi connection just so that I could check Google Maps or the like. - meyerj88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I don't believe that any government entity should (im most cases) ever provide "free" wi-fi Internet access.
Like an earlier poster said, the government can't even maintain our own road system. What makes you think that it will be any different when they try to update and maintain a nationwide wi-fi system? I'm sure that when the government first implements a "free" wi-fi infrastructure it would be great - fast and reliable. However, the hard part will be when it comes time to update that infrastructure as the tech improves. It will just bogged down in bureaucracy and red tape. The government will spend thousands (maybe millions) on just studies alone trying to find the best route. And what if they don't choose the best route? We will be stuck with crappy service/speeds and all we will have to show for it is millions of tax dollars wasted. If history shows us anything it is that government, in its current form, is undeniably inefficient (Look at the "Big Dig" in Mass). When it comes to a country as large as the USA the government should just stay away from wi-fi service. It's too big and inefficient. Somehow, someway, they will screw it up. Leave it to the private companies. It may take a while, but I believe they will get their acts together.
As for Macedonia, if they want the government to provide wi-fi service, more power to them. It's probably a good thing for them since they probably don't have many choices when it comes to Internet access.
On another note, I think we should just skip this whole wi-fi craze and just wait for Wi-Max to mature. It would be much better for a country the size of the USA. - mikev, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Macedonia is a village in Greece.
For God's sake; the countries name is FYROM [Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia] - mathie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3What about Singapore? Their land area is around 500km2 I believe and they're pretty hi-tech, aren't they covered with WiFi already?
- davidv, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Note that todays Modern countries and cities had to start with a basic land network in the beginning. Now that the technology is there smaller third world countries are able to expand faster networks without all the before hand labour that would've taken them decades to do otherwise.
- kunsthaus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2By the way the guy who entitled the posting "Poor country ...." is most certainly incapable of identifying the country on a global map.
- kyrre, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Namain, I am all for WIFI coverage everywhere. I even have a open access point that covers a wide area with an outdoor antenna outside my apartment. However. When not knowing where you are, and not knowing how to get where you want to be, it is OK to ask the locals. They might even be nice people. :)
- elkos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Quoting wikipedia
Aristotle, our oldest source mentioning the word, states that a natural cataclysm swept across central Epirus, a land where its inhabitants used to be called γραικοί (Graecoi) and were later named Hellenes (Έλληνες).[27] In mythology, Graecus is a cousin of Latinus, and the word seems to be related with γηραιός (geraius, anile), which was the title given to the priests of Dodona. They were also named Σελλοί (Selloi)—which shows the relation between the two basic names of the Greeks. The dominant theory on the colonization of Italy has it that part of the people living in Epirus crossed Dodona and migrated to Phthia, becoming infamous as Hellenes the tribe Achilles led to Troy. The remaining part merged with other tribes that arrived later, without losing its name. From there they traveled westwards to Italy, before the first wave of colonists in the 8th century BC arrived at Sicily and southern Italy. - flak9, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6now they just need to focus on how to get food and decent livable conditions to cover the whole country and they would be set!
- CasaMan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"Poor Country has 95% Wi-Fi coverage"
-
Macedonia isn't that "poor", maybe one of the "poorest" in Europe. But it's rising form the after-match of war (and communism, like most east European countries). I think average South American, African, Asian countries are poorer. - jokoxp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The truth is that even the capital - Skopje isn't covered more than 30-40%.
And the reports position us in line with 5% internet usage countries, like those from africa.
This service was a donation from usaid to provide free internet conectivity for the schools in Macedonia and on.net won the tender. This is a big lie, all in connection with on.net's recent acquisition by some slovenian guys for 2 mil. And maybe Macedonia is poor in global ranks now after the fall of Yugoslavia, but that's another one. Peace. - twinklyJesus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Radu:
Dude, get a life! "corporate greed" No corporation or company goes into business to lose money or operate at a break-even state. That would be patently stupid, nearly as stupid as your criticism of corporations who operated to make money, as if that were wrong. Get a clue, then read a book on how things work. Any company which operates other than to make a profit (greed) will not succeed. What a tool! - pfkBS, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This article is sooo not true! Don't rush to move to "one of the most technologically advanced" countries. From where I'm standing it sure doesn't look that way.
First off, wire mesh technology is used only in parts of the capitol and there are problems with the signal. The rest of the population can only sign a two year contract leasing a Canopy Motorola 5400SM for 47$ per month. For that kind of money you get a 768/128 connection caped at miserable 8 GB. The price equals the ADSL offer of the incumbent telecom - Maktel.
Fighting the monopoly? Yeah right. More like fighting to make the headlines... and make good use of those US tax dollars. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So, you don't want many companies fighting over your money, you want Google to fight over your money?
Oh yeah. I forgot. You are probably one of hte ***** idiots who thinks that Google is just trying to help the little people. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yes...necessities change as times chance. Still doesn't change the fact tha internet acess is NOT a necessity. Peoeple can, and DO, live their entire lives without it, and do very well for themselves.
And you sure as hell do not need hi speed access for basic needs. -
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