Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

CONNECTIVITY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Microsoft and Viasat form Partnership to Deliver Internet to the Underserved

Globally

Microsoft Corp. and Viasat announced a areas through the transformational access is part of the United Nations'
new partnership to help deliver internet provision of power and connectivity. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
access to 10 million people around the companies will collaborate to provide and and by focusing a large portion of this
globe, including 5 million across Africa. pilot technologies including, but not limited new partnership on Africa, Microsoft and
Viasat, a global communications company, to, satellites (both geostationary orbit Viasat are working to deliver connectivity
is the first satellite partner to work with and low earth orbit) and fixed wireless. and digital literacy for better education,
Microsoft's Airband Initiative, and together "We believe access to the internet is a healthcare and economic opportunity in
they will deepen Airband's work in the fundamental right and that digital skills critical markets. "We're proud to partner
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, create and enable economic prosperity with Microsoft as it represents another
Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States, for people, businesses and governments. important step in bringing affordable
as well as prioritize expanding the program Through our Airband Initiative we will internet service across Africa, Latin
to Egypt, Senegal and Angola to deliver extend high-speed internet access to 100 America and the U.S., as both companies
much-needed internet connection, often million people on the continent of Africa continue to break down barriers to bridge
for the first time. This first of its kind global and to a quarter of a billion people living the digital divide and make significant
partnership for Airband is an important step in unserved and underserved areas across progress toward digital equity and
in reaching the Initiative's expanded goal the world by 2025," said Teresa Hutson, inclusion," said Evan Dixon, President,
of delivering internet access to a quarter of Microsoft's vice president of Technology Global Fixed Broadband of Viasat.
a billion people across the world, including and Corporate Responsibility. "Working "Providing internet access to the world is
100 million people on the continent of with Viasat, we will use satellite to reach a challenging and bold goal, and doing so
Africa, by the end of 2025. According to remote areas that previously have had in a sustainable and responsible manner
the International Telecommunication few, if any, options for conventional will unlock enduring opportunities for
Union at the UN, roughly one third of the connectivity. Together, we will be able to those who need it most." Through Airband,
world's population - or 2.7 billion people - rapidly scale and expand Airband's reach, Microsoft and its partners have already
have still never used the internet. Satellite exploring a wider pipeline of projects delivered high-speed internet access
allows internet access to reach remote and new countries where we haven't yet to more than 51 million people globally,
areas that previously have had few, if any, worked." Nearly one third of the world's including over 4 million in unserved U.S.
options for conventional connectivity. population is lacking online access to rural communities and an additional 47
Working together, the companies will education, better medical care, business million in 16 unserved and underserved
combine expertise and assets to help opportunities, connection with family and countries outside the U.S. Launched
enable telehealth, distance learning and more. And most of this population lives in 2017, Microsoft's Airband Initiative
education, precision agriculture, clean in just 20 countries across Africa and the works through partnerships with local
power, and other services to reach new Global South. Universal, affordable internet and regional internet and energy access
providers, telecom equipment makers
and nonprofits, as well as governmental
and nongovernmental organizations, to
advance access to affordable internet and
relevant digital skills around the world.
Microsoft believes access to the internet
is a fundamental right for everyone. Viasat
is a global communications company and
an innovator in satellite communications
technologies and services, focused on
making connectivity accessible, available
and secure for all. Today, Viasat is
connecting unserved and underserved
communities around the world, many for
the first time ever. This partnership builds
upon the existing relationship between
Viasat and Microsoft Azure Space to
deliver advances in satellite connectivity
and furthers Microsoft's mission to
connect anyone, anywhere on the planet.

64 NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2022