Anarchy Brings Low Telecom Prices In Somalia 31
AlanKHG writes "As Somalia has been without a government for 13 years, its telecom market has gone unregulated. In that time, the service has become some of the best in Africa. On the other hand, some of the downsides of a society without government are visible, as the country is divided by warring factions and the roads have gone completely unmaintained."
um... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:um... (Score:1)
Re:um... (Score:2)
"Some of the Best Service in Africa?" (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:"Some of the Best Service in Africa?" (Score:2)
it's more like it's amazingly good for a warzone.
not amazing if you compare to a non-warzone though.
misleading slashdot headline? how shocking!
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"We badly need a government," he says. "Everything starts with security - the situation across the country.
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Re:"Some of the Best Service in Africa?" (Score:5, Informative)
Re:"Some of the Best Service in Africa?" (Score:1)
Deregulation isn't [opensecrets.org] all it's [wikipedia.org] cracked up [ibew.org] to be [theshorthorn.com].
Not all of Somalia is in anarchy (Score:5, Insightful)
Somalia can be considered several regions. Somaliland [wikipedia.org] (western Somalia) considers itself a seperate country and maintains a working government (working by the standards of a 3rd world African nation). Puntland [wikipedia.org] also maintains some rule of order (not as much as Somaliland, it seems), but considers itself a part of Somalia, and wants to see the creation of a federated Somalia. The southwest portion of Somalia is what we would consider to be the anarchistic Somalia, with small regions being held by whoever can collect guns and followers. In addition, in southwest Somalia is Mogadishu, which is partially controlled by the transitional gov't. (For those counting, that's three named governments/regions (Somaliland, Puntland, the transitional gov't/Mogadishu) and a good chunk of the country run by local warlords.)
So which part are we talking about? The (mostly unrecognized by the world at large, relatively stable) country of Somaliland, the (somewhat stable) autonomous region of Puntland, or the rest of Somalia?
Good telecom in Somaliland and Puntland wouldn't be an example of a telephone system in an anarchistic land. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if a powerful warlord with a large holding had decent telecom service.
TFA gives me the impression that the researcher is only talking about Mogadishu, which, from what I can tell, is just outside of the territory that Puntland claims, but still within its sphere of influence, with parts controlled by the transitional government of Somalia. Mogadishu wasn't stable during the US Military action there a decade ago, and googling, I find articles about kidnappings and murders. At the same time, I find an article which implies that southern Mogadishu is more stable than northern Mogadishu.
I'd be impressed if the telecoms stayed working in areas which were under true anarchy and lawlessness. I'd be less impressed if the telecoms are opperating in and from areas where a particular warlord or government is strong.
In any case, my google refresher on Somalia gives me no urge to live under anarchy, regardless of the benefits. The natives of Somalia seem to agree with me -- even the telecoms want to pay taxes, if it means a stable gov't.
Re:Real racial diferrences. (Score:1, Offtopic)
anarchy (Score:3)
To make telecomunication work is a direct interest of the company, as it will turn into imediate profit. But no single entity has direct interest or responsability over the maintainence of the roads.
But I'm sure many companies that depends on the roads are suffering from the situation. The natural behaviour would be that these companies would form a group to get resources to take care of the roads. It's their indirect interest, and it's a common good, so the action naturally will take longer, but it will happen. Isn't that how anarchy is supposed to work?
Almost slipped up (Score:1, Troll)
Awww too bad. Wouldn't wanna point out something that supports life without government control. Maybe if you enjoy torture for some reason; otherwise not. But yipes! Warring factions? Can't they just peacefully join forces and obliterate countries with oil like real nations do?
For cripes sake they need to join another country before they're all
Communications Uber Alles! (Score:2)
Service is good if phone use is a privilege (Score:3, Insightful)
If the next government of Somalia is a socialist government, the exact same service by the same people will suddenly be very bad because everyone will have a right to a phone for an affordable price.
Have you seen the caption under the picture? It says "Somalis send e-mails in their own language". That is informative, isn't it?
Third-world telecom heaven? Where's my coat... (Score:2)
Woohoo! I'm off! Got my ticket already. I'm sick up to here with bleeding regulatory commissions rate findings. No more of this namby-pamby court-mandated be-a-nice-telco manure. I could get some REAL billing done there, let me tell you. Probably none of those pes
Re:Third-world telecom heaven? Where's my coat... (Score:2)
On the other hand:
By all means get a cell phone. Just don't use it where people can see you, apparently.
The article also mentions that the people running the telecom companies want a government that can provide security, and welcome paying taxes to that extent. The
Fine by me. Their remaining relatives can stop (Score:2)
Pick (Score:2)
Probably mostly cellular (Score:1, Interesting)
And Hitler had a lovely singing voice. (Score:2)
Paradise (Score:1)
I must ask... (Score:2)
On the other hand, some of the downsides of a society without government are visible, as the country is divided by warring factions and the roads have gone completely unmaintained.
what the libertarian perspective is on Somalia?
At least... (Score:1)
Well at least they can pick up the phone... and call someone who cares!