Despite the growing importance of internet connectivity around the world, internet suspensions remain all too common. But while many of these shutdowns draw attention from critics for authoritarian crackdowns on freedom of expression – and rightly so – the economic implications are often left unsaid.
So, how expensive is it really to shut down the internet, either entirely or partially?
Naturally, it is not cheap.
According to data Top10VPN, 234 major internet shutdowns have taken place across 43 countries since 2019, with a cumulative economic cost of roughly $15.5 billion.
In fact, in 2021 alone, there were around 8,218 hours of internet shutdowns as of July 2021…read more on TotalTele.com »