How is AI Improving Internet Connection in Remote Places

The internet has become a major hallmark of global development. From smartphones to computers to schools and hospitals, many devices and services now rely on smooth internet connectivity to function.

Despite how wide-reaching the internet is, people living in remote places can’t fully enjoy all that the internet has to offer. Most rural communities are often the last to gain access to good internet connections due to geographic and technological factors. The low population of these regions leaves internet service providers reluctant to invest in infrastructure. They’d rather prioritize urban areas where they can provide internet to more people at lower costs. And who can blame them? Thankfully, AI is already providing solutions to this aging problem. 

Does Internet Speed Really Matter?

If you’re asking this question, it’s safe to say you’ve not experienced the pain of watching a movie online that pauses every five seconds. Aside from streaming your favorite cat videos on TikTok on repeat, a stable internet connection allows people in remote locations to enjoy opportunities that urban dwellers seemingly take for granted.

With good internet connectivity, you can access education, e-commerce platforms, or even financial services comfortably online. Entertainment services aren’t left out. With the rise of social media and entertainment services, you can use the internet to communicate with other people, even if they are on the other end of the globe.

Internet connections also open up a world of new possibilities. With strong internet access, Thais can join multiplayer lobbies halfway across the world. It is the same with iGaming, with online gambling heavily restricted in the region, enthusiasts in the region have to explore offshore options. Because these sites are not licensed or regulated in Thailand but instead in regulatory-friendly regions like Malta, they offer users top bonuses and more value. However,  for these sites to work, data needs to be sent across distant servers, making reliable internet a must-have.

But it’s not just about entertainment. A better internet connection also gives you access to things that might not be around you locally. With the Internet, you can do things that were practically unimaginable about a decade ago.

Is AI the solution?

For people living in remote places, satellite connections remain their best bet to stay connected to the internet. But using the internet from such areas isn’t always smooth sailing. Satellite technology is expensive to operate and quick to malfunction. Since network operators would rather channel their resources into providing internet in more populated areas, remote places end up on the receiving end of slow and inconsistent internet. The stark difference in internet connection quality between remote areas and urban settlements has led researchers to look to AI for solutions. 

But how possible is it for AI to improve internet connection in remote places? The answer lies in how AI has efficiently predicted and troubleshot connectivity problems, far better than any human system has. The following are some ways AI has been deployed to solve the internet problem in remote places:

1. Network Optimization.

Most satellite systems struggle to provide steady internet connections in remote environments due to issues such as network outages, limited bandwidth, or unpredictable usage. 

Using machine learning, a team of academics devised an AI learning method called the Multivariate Variance-based Genetic Ensemble Learning Method. This method combines multiple AI solutions to locate and resolve irregularities in satellite networks before they become serious problems. 

Combining AI with machine learning has helped create solutions like bandwidth distribution. Because AI can analyze historical data, internet providers can predict periods when Internet use is high and allocate more bandwidth accordingly. This results in a stable internet connection even when a large number of people are using the internet simultaneously. Optimizing bandwidth also improves internet speed without service providers needing to replace expensive hardware. 

2. Enhanced Satellite Internet

Geostationary satellites, or better still, GEO satellites, have long been the primary internet-providing solution for remote regions. Because Geo satellites are so far away, they cause high latency, which delays internet signals. 

This led to LEO satellites, known as low-earth orbit satellites, being used as an alternative source for internet connection. LEO satellites maintain steady internet connections by passing off signals from one satellite to the next. Because they orbit so close to Earth, these satellites can transfer as many as a thousand signals in a day. The proximity of an LEO satellite to Earth provides fast internet speeds due to its low latency, but it also brings another major problem: orbital coordination challenges.

Luckily for the people living in remote places, AI combats this problem. AI can be used to analyze network congestion or extreme weather conditions. It then synchronizes the data of thousands of these satellites in real time, allowing them to transfer signals seamlessly.

3. Predicting Maintenance 

It’s impossible to know when a satellite that’s orbiting space is having problems. Fixing said problems is even harder. With AI, though, internet providers can track the performance and monitor the health of each satellite in space. AI can spot changes in data and predict system failures before they happen. This makes it possible for network providers to make remote adjustments or schedule quick maintenance. 

The result? A drastic reduction in internet downtimes. For people in remote locations that might not have access to their service providers, AI offers them internet reliability. 

Conclusion

The Internet has fueled a digital economy in which people can do things they never thought possible. Beyond entertainment services and online games, you can learn a new skill, start up a business, or access government services all from the comfort of an Internet-connected device. But not everyone is privy to this luxury, especially those living in remote places. 

The good news is, AI is slowly but surely taking on the biggest challenges that Internet providers face and closing the connectivity gap between remote and urban communities. We’re approaching a time when location will no longer be a barrier to enjoying seamless internet access. With AI, the next generation won’t be asking if there’s a network connection available, only how fast the internet is.