Disruptive Technology

Wireless Internet is seen as a disruptive technology by telecommunication companies and ISPs. Internet connectivity has undergone incremental technological change over time (Christensen, 2004). Its performance improvement has changed without affecting its connection to other components. As shown in Figure 3, internet connectivity has progressed in time from slow dial-up (hard-wired) connectivity to fast wireless connectivity. The screeching sounds for Internet connectivity by way of a 56K modem and a phone line are just about obsolete. The very few who still use this technology can’t afford (or don’t find it financially feasible) to have to purchase additional phone services and/or television channels to get a faster Internet connection.

Figure 3: S-Curve of Disruptive Technology

SOURCE: Exploring the Limits of the Technology S-Curve. Part I: Component Technologies. Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation 2004, 4th Ed.

Figure 4 further shows wireless Internet as a disruptive technology. The most demanding customers are the ones who are able to afford broadband connectivity while the least demanding customers (low income residents) look forward to free municipal wireless networks to access the Internet. The mainstream consists of people who don’t want any complication or interference with their Internet connectivity and performance. This would include government and emergency agencies that may need to make use of this Internet connectivity when their local connections experience technical difficulties.

Figure 4: Disruptive Innovation in Internet Connectivity
SOURCE: Disruption, Disintegration and the Dissipation of Differentiability. Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation 2004, 4th Ed.

But is white space a disruptive technology? Despite all the talk about making use of the white space for wireless Internet connectivity and how it will interfere will wireless microphones and medical equipment, I can only say that the majority of us look forward to a more robust wireless connectivity across different types of mobile devices for free and/or lower prices.

References:

Christensen, Clayton M. (2004). Exploring the Limits of the Technology S-Curve. Part I: Component Technologies. Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation, 4th Ed. Burgelman, Robert, Clayton Christensen and Steven Wheelwright. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin: 208-223.

Christensen, Clayton M., Verlinden, Matt, Westerman, George. (2004). Disruption, Disintegration and the Dissipation of Differentiability. Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation, 4th Ed. Burgelman, Robert, Clayton Christensen and Steven Wheelwright. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin: 278-302.

Tech Target. (2008). Disruptive Technology. Whatis.TechTarget.com. Retrieved on June 30, 2008 from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci945822,00.html#