Could we fit the internet in a box?

It is estimated that only 40% of the world’s households are connected to the Internet. Half of them are in less developed countries, where household Internet penetration has only reached 28%. This is in stark contrast to the 78% of households in more developed countries. A key challenge facing the next generation is therefore enabling wider participation in the Internet, as well as the benefits it brings. This paper explores the feasibility of capturing network applications and services in a single locally usable “Internet Box”. The Box will operate independently from the rest of the Internet, allowing those without traditional connectivity to use the “Internet” in an simulated and disconnected manner. We conclude that the concepts have great potential, and explore some of the remaining challenges, as well as milestones achieved in the literature so far.