Kim Dotcom, founder of cloud hosting platform Megaupload, has claimed his latest project could help connect New Zealand and the US with an undersea fibre cable.
Dotcom told media that the upcoming Mega portal, announced last week, could finance the installation, making the country a prime destination for data centres and Internet businesses.
He even suggested the money obtained by suing Hollywood and the US government for ‘unlawful’ closure of Megaupload could help provide almost free fibre broadband to every resident of New Zealand.
However, Dotcom thinks the plan to double New Zealand’s bandwidth is essential to the future of the country, and he has invited Pacific Fibre management to talk about resurrecting the project. “One way or another, New Zealand needs Pacific Fibre,” Dotcom told ONE News.
The controversial entrepreneur said the cable installation could be financed by Mega – the successor to Megaupload that is expected to launch on 20 January 2013.
The new website promises more control over files, as well as improved security and reliability. Just like before, users will be able to upload, store and share photos, documents, music and video, but this time the platform will employ encryption, which Dotcom said would make the Mega operators immune to any copyright liability.
Megaupload was closed down by the US Department of Justice in January as part of a multinational co-operative move against online copyright infringement. The founder and three employees were taken into custody by New Zealand police, but were released on bail in February.
“Because ISPs control the last mile and provide equipment like routers they would still charge a fee but it could be as low as 15 – 20 percent of current bandwidth plans with three to five times faster connection speeds and without transfer limits.
“With its own cable, cheap power and connectivity, New Zealand could attract foreign Internet business.”
Dotcom also said that investing into fibre makes more sense than building roads, since in 10-15 years the majority of people will work and shop from home.
The announcement has received criticism in the media, with many doubting whether anything the Megaupload founder says can be taken seriously. Most of his assets remain frozen until an extradition hearing on 25 March, and if he is sent to the US and convicted, Dotcom could spend next 20 years in prison.
Others think he might actually pull it off. “If anyone can put together a deal like this, then it would be Kim Dotcom,” commented Paul Brislen, head of the TUA.
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Hi!
sadly Mega is right!
Without a massive improvement the economies of most Western Countries will "wither and die on the vine".
The trouble is the politicians just don't understand this.
The new world economy will be based on Cloud.
Pity for New Zealand and UK where they just don't understand. Even most in U.S.A. don't or won't admit the truth.
Essentially if you have a lead like South Korea, you could be the next boom economy. The language is a problem there, but in UK, Oz or NZ that is no problem.
So leadership of the world in economic terms is up for grabs.
As light speed can circle the earth 6x in one second, the slight lag on transmission is not a make or break factor.
States that fail to upgrade infra and exo structure broadband will become client states economically of those who have.
Sadly the U.S.A still hasn't realised this.
One reason is that the new Cloud model doesn't suit most USA IT Giants and they are obfuscating or in denial of reality as it means the death-knell of their business and loss of shareholder assets.