Net neutrality repeal could be the beginning of the end of the internet as we know it, or that is what a lot of us are worrying right now. Well! the end of something we cherished for a long time, should be naturally worrisome, but what if the end of something is the beginning of something better.
The Financial Crisis gave us cryptocurrencies and blockchain. In a similar way if the net neutrality gets compromised this time or any time in future, it will be an opportunity for a new internet.
A really decentralised internet. We now have all the basic ingredients for a new Internet, all we need is a little push. I hope the net neutrality repeal will provide that. Here are some bits and pieces of the possible new Internet in making.
IPFS instead of HTTP
HTTP is great, but it can be better. There are a lot of techniques for file distribution, invented after the introduction of HTTP which we were not able to integrate into HTTP. Mostly because HTTP already works fairly good.
This could be our chance to implement Inter Planetary File System, which converts every connected device into the part of a large distributed single file system, where duplication can be reduced exponentially. This peer-to-peer file systems takes great ideas from technologies such as BitTorrent and Git.
Blockchain for DNS
The traditional Domain Name System is a centralised one. That gives us the opportunity to build a DNS based on Blockchain. We can claim, update, buy or sell domain names or equivalent identifiers with a fee on this Blockchain.
Radio Frequency and Micropayment instead of Broadband or Mobile Internet
The spectrum reserved for Amateur Radio ( Ham Radio ) may be used to make peer-to-peer data transfer. This will make the data transfer completely decentralised. We already have competent tools for this spectrum, readily available. This can be further extended by the use of micropayment for sharing the data between peers.
These are just some wild speculations, and there are much more technologies and ideas which need just a nod to group together and evolve into a better internet beyond the control of any untrustable groups. I believe a new beginning is much near.