The world is not flat

Despite the illusions that ICTs have levelled the global playing field for companies and nations, the reality is quite the opposite

In 2005, Thomas Friedman asserted that information and communication technologies (ICTs) had flattened the global playing field for businesses and individuals. The idea that the world is flat became extremely popular. However, this perception contrasts starkly with reality. The ICT landscape resembles mountains and molehills, with colossal giants dominating as smaller players struggle to compete. These giants, a few companies in a few countries, concentrate the production of almost all ICTs, establishing significant entry barriers for others. The highly concentrated global ICT market has become a battleground for strategic leveraging and geopolitics. This dominance challenges the notion of a flat