Sunday, October 20, 2013

Affordable internet: Google, 30 others join A4AI


Google has joined forces with over 30 members to drum more support for the affordable internet under the aegis of Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).

The Access Principal at Google, Jennifer Haroon, established to DigitalSENSE Business News that
A4AI, is a new coalition that cuts across boundaries of geography, sector, or size. Our goal? To help bring down Internet costs through policy change.

According to her, new technologies play a crucial role in bringing the Internet to more people worldwide.
“We’ve developed and invested in many of these big ideas over the years. We broke new ground with balloon-powered Internet access, are bringing broadband to Africa with TV White Spaces, and are funding organizations like the Internet Society to develop Internet Exchange Points in emerging markets,” she said.

Haroon also said that these technologies could have major impact, but no single solution could connect the 5 billion people living without Internet access today.

“Policy change can help new innovation take hold and flourish; outdated policies can stifle progress. In Kenya and other markets that have adopted national broadband plans, policy change has delivered results, fast,” she said.

Pointing out that A4AI would focus on those policy changes that can bolster new access technologies and initiatives and make the Internet more affordable to people worldwide.

Initiated by the World Wide Web Foundation, A4AI includes members from the technology, government, and nonprofit worlds, from developed and developing countries.


Google--along with other Global Sponsors--joined the alliance in its early days to help establish the vision that exists today, as well as rally more members that share our mission for affordable Internet access.

Remmy Nweke 
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

No comments: