[Foundation-l] One Wikipedia Per Person (regarding the distribution of and the ability to read Wikipedia)

[mike.wikipedia at gmail.com]

On 2009-06-01 00:18, Anthony wrote:
> On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 6:05 PM, Thomas Dalton<thomas.dalton at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>    
>> 2009/5/31 Ray Saintonge<saintonge at telus.net>:
>>      
>>> Assuming that I were somewhere in rural Africa, and perfectly
>>> functioning hardware with Wikipedia software loaded in dropped in front
>>> of me from the sky like a magic Coke bottle from the Gods, how much
>>> would I then be able to use that gift to get a better yield from my
>>> little patch of  poor farm-land?
>>>        
>> Wikipedia could be *part* of a solution, it's never going to be a
>> solution on its own. Wikipedia could be useful as part of an education
>> system, but it can't be the whole thing.
>>      
>
>
> I just found another statistic.  Mobile networks cover roughly 80-90% of the
> worlds population.
>
> For them, using that mobile network is probably the most cost effective
> solution.  For the rest, giving them enough of an education to have the
> means to come live with the rest of us, is probably the most cost effective
> solution.
You also found any statistics on what prices for internet access through 
mobile networks are? What proportion of the world's people can afford a 
internet connection in the first place, and how many can afford a 
connection which is useful to browse wikipedia?
I'm just curious as I know someone - a westerner - working in Africa and 
finding internet access hideously expensive. (chat and email ok, but she 
tells that she avoids browsing the net as the cost is per downloaded MB)