First of all…

The main idea in this document came up to my mind on 18/4/2010.

The concept here, and all related ideas are subject to deep and reasonable discussion. Please do not make quick judgments, and try to find points where you agree with me, and points where you don’t.

Going through this document, please do not read with the eyes of an internet and technology geek only. Read and think as if you were an ordinary user, or a politician, or a pedagogue… or a parent.

Introduction

The Internet started in the U.S., and then became well-known during early-to-mid nineties. Since then, it was - and still - exponentially growing.

There is almost no limitation on the content of the web. Only recently the International Community started; or is trying to impose some rules.

The open character of the internet made it available to every living person on the Globe, and hence it contains an abnormally huge mix of ideas, cultures, personalities … etc.

My thoughts

Based on almost 15 years of experience dealing and living with the internet, I have the following thoughts:

• The Internet became annoyingly huge. Why annoyingly?
• Considerable amount of the content does not fit, or is not appropriate to considerable amount of users.
• The openness of the internet caused a heterogeneous mix of cultures, thoughts, ideologies … which, sometimes, leads to dialogue, but, many times, led to conflict and hatred.

My idea

Based on the previous thoughts I suggest the concept of “NATIONALIZING THE INTERNET”:

• Every country should have its own internet.
• This local internet contains both national as well as international sites. Think of this as usual markets, where you see, and are free to buy either local and/or foreign products.
• As the case with the boundaries of the country, the local internet is protected against intruders and only the legal and visa comers are allowed to enter.
• At first stage, this will be available as an alternative option, i.e. the user may connect to either the national internet or the usual common international internet.
• Suggested names for the local internet will be, for example, by adding the two letter country code to the beginning of the word ‘Internet’, and hence we will have jointernet (for Jordan), sainternet (Saudi Arabia), eginternet (Egypt), ominternet (Oman), ueinternet (UAE), kwinternet (Kuwait), ukinternet, usinternet, ruinternet, …
• Some countries may agree to combine their internets and make a kind of ‘regional’ internet, for example; the European internet (euinternet), the Gulf Council internet (gcinternet)… etc.
• This is not about applying some kind of filters only. I am talking here about establishing completely independent local internets (call them if you wish countrywide or regional intranets).
• I believe that this idea tackles an old and ‘itchy’ need of many countries, for example the conservative Gulf Countries as well as many others. Think of China and some other Asian countries here!
• Local internets will encourage many companies to have several versions of their sites that suit the needs of specific markets. The same case when a manufacturer makes special versions of their product to be suitable for certain markets.

Possible benefits

Some commercial benefits

• Companies and experts/consultants/advisors to set the rules for the local internet and the criteria for allowing other sites (granting visa).
• Companies and experts to cater for the infrastructure (both H/W and S/W).
• Companies and experts/advisors to act as the content managers, i.e. decide who is eligible for entering and with which content. This may be either human work and/or special S/W.

Some social benefits

• More comfortable environment for the government, families and the whole society.
• Preserving the distinctive characters of the country, not loosing, at the same time, contact and interaction with the outer world.
• ‘Import’ only what is useful for the society, and ‘export’ only the meaningful and worthy content.

Example

Suppose that Saudi Arabia decided to establish its own internet, the sainternet:

• The establishment period (1-2 years max.). During this period:

• the infrastructure is being built,
• most of the local sites approved,
• major foreign sites are also approved (microsoft.com, gm.com…),
• many foreign websites presented their version for approval,
• analogue of some sites has been done (facebook-like, youtube-like…).

• The user has an option to either connect to sainternet or to the usual internet. Both have different ways (numbers) for connecting.
• At first glance, the user will feel no difference, as still he/she will be able to open most of the usual sites for example google.com, microsoft.com, maktoob.com… and surf the usual way.
• However, when searching for some word or image… the user will get the results that exist in the internet he/she is connected to.

Conclusion

I request you to please read the 'First of all', 'Introduction', and 'My thoughts' paragraphs again.

This is a huge project which may not necessarily be adopted by most of the countries, however, it has a great potential in some countries/regions, for example in the rich Gulf area. It needs some marketing skills with an easily convincing logic and I believe it'll be accepted.

Finally, I always encourage the common living and peaceful co-existence of all nations; however, I regretfully noticed that matters are not going in this desired direction.