The internet “is in danger of losing it’s universality and splintering into separate digital domains” according to an article in The Economist (disclosure: client) this week.

It believes that the geographic, commercial and technological silos being created on the Internet are a threat to it’s openness and the very essence of the Internet.

It scrutinises the three types of silos that are being created on the internet.

• National – China, Iran, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam all restrict access
• Commercial walled gardens – we’re reverting to a bygone period when tech companies (AOL, CompuServe etc) shackled consumers to their proprietary systems
• Net neutrality – The Economist suggests that operators looking for sources of revenue may try and strike deals with content provides and discriminate between traffic from different sources

It’s well worth a read if you’re interested in the commercial development of the Internet.

In it’s conclusion The Economist, champion of free trade, open markets and vigorous competition, says that these principals must apply to the virtual as well as the physical world.