Programmable Networks and Their Social Impact in Developing Countries

Software defined network has been the buzzword among networking professionals since the last few years. SDN promises to simplify network management using its three tiered architecture. Unfortunately, a significant amount of research that is going on in this field is focused on huge enterprise or datacenter networks. The social impact that this technology can bring about especially in developing countries has not been thought of. This paper discusses the societal benefits of using the concept of programmable networks in sectors such as education, healthcare and small scale enterprises. Although various issues faced by the information technology departments in the above mentioned sectors are considered, the focus is mainly on the education sector, especially in the rural areas and the concerns of the technology personnel involved in network management there.