Microsoft aims to bring TV white space broadband and internet to 40 mln by 2022

News Broadband Global 9 OCT 2019
Microsoft aims to bring TV white space broadband and internet to 40 mln by 2022

Microsoft has announced plans to provide internet access to 40 million unserved and under-served people by July 2022, including many in South Africa, the company said on its blog. Microsoft will work with regulatory authorities to remove obstacles preventing the use of TV White Space (TVWS) and other technologies that could help local partners provide connectivity in areas that need it. The company will concentrate its efforts to areas with significant underserved populations, initially, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.  

The company launched the Airband Initiative in 2017, with the goal of bringing broadbandy to 3 million people in rural America by July 2022. It has now formalised the international work within the Initiative. In addition to the TVWS, the company plans to partner with local ISP and focus on transforming rural infrastructure, in order to supporting agriculture, education, rural entrepreneurship and telemedicine, as well as off-grid energy sources. Microsoft said it also wants to build a larger ecosystem of support, with a focus on bringing in more international financing so as to scale up projects.

 

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Internet

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Microsoft

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Global

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Production planning & operations, Internet Access, Financial funding

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