Image source: Gigaom.Com

Many U.S. citizens now own smartphones and other mobile gadgets, there’s still a huge deficit in broadband access. MIT Technology Review correspondent David Talbot has reported that the latest survey released by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project shows that 1 out of 5 Americans still lacks broadband access, which, unfortunately is still inadequate needs to be addressed.

According to the survey, 70% of adults in the U.S. have broadband access in their homes while large proportions have smartphones which is an increase from Pew’s research last year. There’s an additional 10% of Americans getting internet access from their smartphones.

To fill the huge gap in rural U.S. areas and developing nations, various solutions were created like using wireless approaches that include the Super Wi-Fi. The technology has been approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and it uses spare television frequencies for long-range wireless internet. It’s now ready for commercialization.

As of today, at least 40 experimental installations are up and running in the U.S. as well as Singapore, Vietnam and several African countries that have programs involving Microsoft, Google and local telecom companies.

At least 40 experimental installations are up and running in the United States—including in a North Carolina county and in East Houston, Texas—along with others in Singapore, Vietnam, and several African countries in programs involving Microsoft, Google, and local telecom companies.

Talbot also points out the use of the unlicensed spectrum by new software-defined radios like 4G wireless broadband as another way to address the issue.

Hopefully, with all those solutions popping up, the problem of scarce broadband access will be resolved sooner.