Broadband Communication

It is clear that many questions can be raised with regard to broadband. This issue of Trends in Communication discusses some of them from several different perspectives. The issue begins with a discussion on the adoption of broadband in the United States and Korea by looking into technological, policy, and cultural factors. The second article discusses the Singapore city-state policy with regard to broadband as the most recent step in policy toward an intelligent island and a knowledge-intensive society. The next example describes the diffusion of broadband in Japan, as well as the diffusion on mobile broadband--Internet via telephone, third generation mobile, and WLAN initiatives. In addition, the specific role of the PC-Bang in Korea and the PC-Bang culture--raising the issue of possible negative effects of Internet games via broadband--are discussed. Finally, some critical questions are raised with regard to the consequences of unequal adoption of broadband.