Dave, I greatly appreciate your perspective. While our views may differ substantially, our shared respect and honest dialog helps to stimulate conversation and inform those investing time and resources in the space. With respect to DPI I agree on "Digital Infrastructure" and certainly "Public" makes sense where eGovernment services are involved.. however I don't want a DPI touching any private sector commercial activities. Perhaps this is a difference between the EU and US. Here sustainability means economic viability.
As a capitalist, my strong view is that Government services intruding on commercial activity should be minimal. While government has a role in regulating commercial activities, providing services is problematic (as seen in our health care systems). I was on the board of a Gates Foundation investment in Pakistan (UBI) in 2008. Back then there were 5 propective mobile money start ups gaining traction. The Gates foundation invested in 3 of them (~$5M). What do you think happened to the other 2? Yep they could not compete. Furthermore the Gates Foundation (NGO) planned to invest $5M in these every year.. creating dependent Zombies that had pricing disconnected from what enabled sustainability (my blog on topic from 2001 https://blog.starpointllp.com/?p=1312).
Leading investors in this space are Quona and Omidyar. We have all written the Gates Foundation the same note. Stick to regulatory advocacy and public healthcare.. if they come into any market investment capital runs away.
Governments do have a role in standards and law. The standard of identification for contracts in law, the protection of consumer privacy. Empowering of consumers to control their identity and information. But this is a governing force .. which is NOT DPI.
Thus I would prefer for the US to focus on standards, law and eGovernment services that support private development of infrastructure you speak of. With regard to open banking. What a mess.. forcing one commercial entity to provide information to another without a value exchange is not fair. They answer of course if for a consumer to retain ALL of their information locally and permission it from their phone.
I understand you may disagree.. which is fine. Please know I appreciate your perspective
Dave, I greatly appreciate your perspective. While our views may differ substantially, our shared respect and honest dialog helps to stimulate conversation and inform those investing time and resources in the space. With respect to DPI I agree on "Digital Infrastructure" and certainly "Public" makes sense where eGovernment services are involved.. however I don't want a DPI touching any private sector commercial activities. Perhaps this is a difference between the EU and US. Here sustainability means economic viability.
As a capitalist, my strong view is that Government services intruding on commercial activity should be minimal. While government has a role in regulating commercial activities, providing services is problematic (as seen in our health care systems). I was on the board of a Gates Foundation investment in Pakistan (UBI) in 2008. Back then there were 5 propective mobile money start ups gaining traction. The Gates foundation invested in 3 of them (~$5M). What do you think happened to the other 2? Yep they could not compete. Furthermore the Gates Foundation (NGO) planned to invest $5M in these every year.. creating dependent Zombies that had pricing disconnected from what enabled sustainability (my blog on topic from 2001 https://blog.starpointllp.com/?p=1312).
Leading investors in this space are Quona and Omidyar. We have all written the Gates Foundation the same note. Stick to regulatory advocacy and public healthcare.. if they come into any market investment capital runs away.
Governments do have a role in standards and law. The standard of identification for contracts in law, the protection of consumer privacy. Empowering of consumers to control their identity and information. But this is a governing force .. which is NOT DPI.
Thus I would prefer for the US to focus on standards, law and eGovernment services that support private development of infrastructure you speak of. With regard to open banking. What a mess.. forcing one commercial entity to provide information to another without a value exchange is not fair. They answer of course if for a consumer to retain ALL of their information locally and permission it from their phone.
I understand you may disagree.. which is fine. Please know I appreciate your perspective