ANTHONY M. TOWNSEND. 2003. WIRED/UNWIRED: THE URBAN

GEOGRAPHY OF DIGITAL NETWORKS. PH.D. DISSERTATION. MASSACHUSETTS

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Information Technology, Space and the built environment: The Death of the city? ; Wrapping up

Introduction

Thesis examines the development of digital network infrastructure in the world’s greatest cities at the turn of 20th century.

Analyses how the physical components of digital networks were deployed in major urban areas during 1990s.

It finds that historical processes and pre existing differences between places shaped the evolution of this infrastructure at multiple spatial scales; global, metropolitan, and neighborhood.

As a result, rather than bringing about the “death of distance”, digital network infrastructure actually reinforced many of the pre-existing differences between connected and disconnected places.

As the development of wired network slowed, wireless technology emerged as a more flexible, intuitive and efficient form of connecting users.

Chapter 1: Communication Network as Urban Infrastructure

IntroductionCities as Information SystemsCommunications GeographyDesign and Planning of Mediated Space

Chapter 2: The Spread of the Internet

IntroductionThe Military Research Network (1969 - 1987)The Educational Network (1987 - 1995)The Commercial Network (1995 - present)Global DiffusionThe United States as the center of Global

InternetLoosening America’s grip on the Internet

Chapter 3: The Rise of the Network Cities

IntroductionGlobal Cities and the InternetThe inadequacy of existing views

Chapter 4: The Wired Metropolis

Introduction Four vital components of Urban digital infrastructure Teleport

Information HighwayInformation FactoriesInformation WarehousesInformation Ports

Chapter 5: The Fiber Boom and Bust

IntroductionThe BoomThe BustWhy the Bubble bust?

Chapter 6: The Untethered City

IntroductionThe emergence of untethered cityMobile Communications and Urban DynamicsUntethered Infrastructure

Chapter 7: Policy, Planning and Design for the Digitally Networked City

IntroductionPlanning: Putting telecommunications on the

mapPolicy: Infrastructure, Connectivity and

CompetitivenessDesign: Mediated Urban Space

Thank you