Telecosm: How Infinite Bandwidth Will Revolutionize Our World [Hardcover]

To persuade the reader, Gilder drills down into the roots of the technology that constitutes the telecosm, starting with the early work of scientists trying to uncover the mysteries of electromagnetic forces through to the implementation of modern fibre optics. But he does so in an entertaining, highly digestible form, providing a comprehensive view of how network bandwidth has become such a potent technological force.

The arrival of 'real' bandwidth will cause much displacement. Many of the much vaunted technologies of recent times, such as satellite telephones, digital signal processors, and copper telephone cables, are dismissed by Gilder as he provides detailed arguments about their inferiority compared with fibre optics and packet-switched cellular networks. Managers in telecommunications have most to benefit from the book's guide to fibre optics and the impediments to progress that are imposed by government regulations and industry institutions. Some of Gilder's most severe criticisms are directed at these groups.

Gilder offers interesting views on how unlimited bandwidth will force companies to radically change their business models. In the world of advertising, for example, the abundance of bandwidth will mean that television companies and Web sites will distribute adverts personalised to the individual. Bandwidth will be a great liberator of both time and economic activity. People will be freed from routine tasks, such as shopping at the supermarket, enabling them to concentrate on more productive tasks, he says.

Many previous books have made similar prophecies about how technology will transform our lives. Gilder's highly convincing and well-researched arguments should, therefore, be treated with an element of caution. But Telecosm is, none the less, a thought-provoking, definitive guide.

To persuade the reader, Gilder drills down into the roots of the technology that constitutes the telecosm, starting with the early work of scientists trying to uncover the mysteries of electromagnetic forces through to the implementation of modern fibre optics. But he does so in an entertaining, highly digestible form, providing a comprehensive view of how network bandwidth has become such a potent technological force.

The arrival of 'real' bandwidth will cause much displacement. Many of the much vaunted technologies of recent times, such as satellite telephones, digital signal processors, and copper telephone cables, are dismissed by Gilder as he provides detailed arguments about their inferiority compared with fibre optics and packet-switched cellular networks. Managers in telecommunications have most to benefit from the book's guide to fibre optics and the impediments to progress that are imposed by government regulations and industry institutions. Some of Gilder's most severe criticisms are directed at these groups.

Gilder offers interesting views on how unlimited bandwidth will force companies to radically change their business models. In the world of advertising, for example, the abundance of bandwidth will mean that television companies and Web sites will distribute adverts personalised to the individual. Bandwidth will be a great liberator of both time and economic activity. People will be freed from routine tasks, such as shopping at the supermarket, enabling them to concentrate on more productive tasks, he says.

Many previous books have made similar prophecies about how technology will transform our lives. Gilder's highly convincing and well-researched arguments should, therefore, be treated with an element of caution. But Telecosm is, none the less, a thought-provoking, definitive guide.

The author critises the government for hindering the growth of technology and encourages us to "waste" the abundance bandwidth created from these evolving technologies. However, he did not highlight much on the problems faced by these technology espeically the wireless technologies. For example he argued that the regualtion of the FCC slows down the growth of wireless technology by limiting the use of infinitly available frequency spectrum but did not highlight the need of the FCC to prevent interferences among the different wireless technologies.

Overall it is an enjoyable book and good buy for those interested in telecommunications (albeit his points is a bit biased).