Microsoft launches fund for internet access

In Zimbabwe, Microsoft has officially engaged 50 Harare schools where it would ran some pilot projects aimed at equipping students and teachers with the vast educational tools at Microsoft’s disposal

MICROSOFT Corporation has launched a fund to help companies in under served markets to afford internet access.

The fund, which will be distributed next year, is part of Microsoft’s Affordable Access Initiative, which invests in new last-mile access technologies, cloud-based services and applications, and business models that can reduce the cost of internet access and help more people affordably get online.

In a statement, Microsoft executive vice president of business development, Peggy Johnson, said approximately four billion people globally were without internet access.

“The ability to close that gap is more achievable than ever with technology that is readily available and affordable in many parts of the world. Through this fund, we hope to kick-start the entrepreneurial process by identifying promising ideas that we can help nurture, grow and scale,” said Johnson.

Under its Affordable Access Initiative, Microsoft partners with internet access providers and other public and private sector entities on innovative and practical connectivity and services solutions designed to deliver the greatest socio-economic impact to the greatest number of people.

The fund comes a month after Micosoft East and Southern Africa (ESA) general manager, Sebuh Haileleul, pledged support to Zimbabwe at an Innovation Africa Summit held in Kampala, Uganda.

Haileleul said: “Irrespective of the challenges that the Zimbabwean economy is facing, Microsoft is committed to support and invest in both government and the private sector in various technological initiatives that will result in more jobs being created.”

In Zimbabwe, Microsoft has officially engaged 50 Harare schools where it would ran some pilot projects aimed at equipping students and teachers with the vast educational tools at Microsoft’s disposal. Just recently, Microsoft trained first-year University of Zimbabwe students in Windows 10.

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