A group of private and public sector players have launched the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI). The Alliance aims to lead policy and regulatory reform and spur action to drive down artificially high internet prices in developing countries. By advocating for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets, A4AI aims to help access prices drop to below 5 percent of monthly income worldwide, a target set by the UN Broadband Commission. According to ITU, reaching this goal can help to connect the two-thirds of the world that is presently not connected to the internet and make universal access a reality.
A4AI’s 30+ members include governments, companies, and civil society organizations from both developed and developing countries. Members believe that that policy reform, underpinned by robust research and genuine knowledge-sharing, can boost internet penetration rates. The Alliance was initiated by the World Wide Web Foundation, with global sponsors such as Google, Omidyar Network, UK DFID and USAID. The initiative is also backed by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
The Alliance will begin in-country engagements with three to four states by year-end, expanding to at least twelve countries by the end of 2015. Members have committed to a set of policy best practices that will guide advocacy work at the international level. Key policy levers to drive prices down include allowing innovative allocation of spectrum, promoting infrastructure sharing, and increasing transparency and public participation in regulatory decisions.
