Internet is no longer a luxury, but it has become a major necessity over time. Previously, people thought that it was only used to play online games and for social media purposes, but over time, major industries like health, education, and even businesses have shifted their work online.
Because of this, the Maryland Department of Information Technology and Maryland Broadband Cooperative have taken major steps to bring internet to western and underserved parts of the state.
This has allowed Maryland internet providers to offer high-speed connections to residents, helping them stay digitally connected with the outside world.
Next, this article discusses how broadband expansion in Maryland is changing internet access across the state and transforming its major industries.
Funding and Execution of Internet Infrastructure
The Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) and the Department of Housing and Community Development are the main organizations that are responsible for bridging the digital divide in the state.
OSB aims to ensure that every resident has access to high-speed and affordable internet. , pPlus, they are working with local internet providers, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to fulfill their goals.
OSB is not building the network infrastructure directly, but they are providing the funds, roadmaps, and other technical support to that can allow local bodies to make build high-quality infrastructure.
Moreover, the government and local bodies are aiming to offer fiber internet in the state instead of DSL and satellite. The reason is that DSL technology is a bit old now; it uses old copper wires, the same ones used in the telephone lines to offer internet in residential areas.
The major issue with this technology is that it is old and does not offer high-speed internet as the latest technologies do. Furthermore, satellite is also not being prioritized because it highly depends on weather conditions. If the sky is clear, only then will satellite internet work effectively and offer decent speeds.
The state aims to offer fiber internet across Maryland because fiber technology is the latest one, and the best part is that it offers symmetrical speeds. This means that download and upload speeds are the same, which will help users to do heavy and data-intensive activities like streaming, playing online games, and video calls smoothly, without any delay.
Impacts of Better Connectivity in Maryland
Reliable high-speed internet in the state will lead to better outcomes such as:
Economic Growth and Remote Work
A proper internet infrastructure in Maryland will lead to economic growth and an increase in the number of remote workers. Fast and reliable internet will attract modern industries and many tech startups since local businesses can connect with global markets and they can compete with big international brands, which will give them a competitive edge.
Moreover, high-speed internet will allow locals to work with major companies regardless of their location. This will be a very good opportunity for those who are located in the rural areas of Maryland, as this will cut down on transportation costs.
Reliable internet will also allow employees and remote workers to collaborate smoothly, as they can easily do video calls and share files without any interruption, which will help employees be productive and efficient.
Education Equity
A good internet infrastructure in Maryland will ensure that every student gets a good education regardless of their family income or zip code; all students have the same foundation of learning.
When the internet is a necessity rather than a luxury, it will directly impact the literacy rate of the state since students can learn from anywhere regardless of their location.
Students can get admission in to different universities that offer remote learning; this will help them to get a degree from an international university while living at home. For example, a friend of mine got a business degree from the University of London because they were offering remote learning for that, so while living in Maryland, he got the degree from the University of London.
Moreover, with a reliable and high-speed internet connection, students can also take online courses from different platforms, like Coursera and even Google-certified courses. This will help them to strengthen their resume and will help them get better jobs.
Telehealth Expansion
A strong internet infrastructure in Maryland will positively affect telehealth by making online healthcare fast, accessible, and reliable for everyone.
When there is a good broadband network, especially in rural areas, it will helps to overcome barriers to medical problems, as high-speed and reliable internet will allow patients to video call doctors. For instance, instead of going to the doctor, patients can video call their doctors, which will be more accessible and convenient for them.
Moreover, patients with heart disease and diabetes can wear smart devices that will automatically analyze their vitals, like blood pressure and sugar levels, and send them to the their doctor. It will eliminates the hassle for a patient of going to the hospital to get their tests done and show them to the doctor.
Moreover, when the internet is more accessible in a state, it will develop a market for healthcare providers, as they will feel more confident and invest in telehealth , which will allow them to serve more people.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, once the broadband infrastructure is fully developed in the state, the people will experience a big change since they will be more connected than ever.
It will evolve the current industries and welcome emerging ones, which will contribute to the state’s local economy, which will benefit Maryland and ultimately the country in the long run.
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