Cultivating the Norwegian Mobile Internet : A critical inquiry into high level services based on mobile telecommunication technologies

Abstract

In this thesis the Norwegian Mobile Internet (NMI) is investigated. The critical approach, to my research, stems from a Habermasian concern for collective liberation through the cultivation of a (networked) public sphere, as well as a Foucauldinian concern for individual self liberation. The investigation draws upon two conceptual frameworks, namely, Actor-Network Theory and generativity. Here, the concept of generativity lends special attention to how well the presence of current mobile telecommunication technologies and services, allow for the innovation, development and adoption of new high level services.

Through the application of the two conceptual frameworks, the thesis seeks to investigate the NMI’s generative capacity as well as its emancipatory potential. My findings suggest that the somewhat obscure pricing schemes on mobile data traffic, in conjunction with the lack of a strong de facto* standard for publishing and retrieving mobile browser content, is generally hampering the emancipatory potential of the NMI. In addition, I suggest that the mobile telecom operators also being directly involved in mobile content provision (e.g. CPA-platform), is keeping a lid on innovation. The main reason for this is the increased incentives for mobile telecom operators to control both content providers’ and end users’ interests towards the NMI.