On the economic side, in addition to solidarity loans, the company has set up a microfranchise program that allows members to buy wholesale products to distribute in their communities.

FORBES: In Mexico, A Dartmouth Grad Fights Poverty Through Capitalism

Of BT's share of the market, half of the connections are via its own ISP BT Openworld and the rest is made up from internet service providers such as Freeserve and AOL which buy broadband wholesale from BT.

BBC: Slow progress on broadband Britain

Nope, apparently Nokia just thought it would be cheaper to buy the firm, which (among other things) specializes in the wholesale setting up of new PlaysForSure partners, outright for 60 million.

ENGADGET: Nokia buying Loudeye and launching mobile music