Internet Service Providers, Global or Local?

This book examines the role of Internet service providers (ISPs) in cities of middle and high-income countries that are not part of the English language dominance often attributed to the Internet use. It analyses structural, dynamic factors from the socio- economic, technological, and policy domains that affect the provision of Internet services. It also provides the most detailed examination yet produced of individual ISPs and the environment in which they operate in middle and high-income countries. This research also examines the contribution of ISPs towards the creation of information societies in Latin America and Western Europe. This research uses a theoretical framework based on the tension between localisation and globalisation processes that affect the activities of agents of change, the ISPs, and the competition between local and the global players in providing Internet services. A central issue of this research is whether an appropriate set of technological, socio-economic and political components may be established at city level to increase the value and capabilities for using Internet technologies.