Niall Ferguson, in his book "The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook," argues that delivering mobile telephony to the world's impoverished communities has been significantly more achievable than supplying them with clean water. This observation raises questions about the effectiveness of governmental efforts in providing essential services, particularly in areas plagued by corruption and inefficiency.

Ferguson suggests that the complexities surrounding clean water access might be better addressed through private sector involvement rather than relying solely on struggling public institutions. The assertion implies that well-functioning networks, such as those enabling mobile communication, could be a model for improving the delivery of other vital resources, like clean water, especially in regions where governments fall short.