Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has partnered with Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung to launch internet.org, n a move to make internet accessible to the next 5 billion people.
Internet.org is to make internet access available to the 5 billion who are not yet connected, and to bring the same opportunities to everyone that the connected third of the world has today.
“Everything Facebook has done has been about giving all people around the world the power to connect,” Zuckerberg said. “There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy. Internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it.”
Facebook, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung — will develop joint projects, share knowledge, and mobilize industry and governments to bring the world online. Internet.org is influenced by the successful Open Compute Project, an industry-wide initiative that has lowered the costs of cloud computing by making hardware designs more efficient and innovative.
Internet.org will focus on making and adopting technologies that make mobile connectivity more affordable and decrease the cost of delivering data to people worldwide such as lower-cost, higher-quality smartphones and partnerships to more broadly deploy internet access in underserved communities. Reduce the amount of data required to use most apps and internet experiences and supporting news models that lead to increased access so as mobile operators, device manufacturers, developers and other businesses provide more affordable access than has previously been possible.
Nokia is deeply passionate about connecting people – to one another and the world around them said Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop. “Over the years, Nokia has connected well over a billion people. Our industry is now at an exciting inflection point where Internet connectivity is becoming more affordable and efficient for consumers while still offering them great experiences. Universal internet access will be the next great industrial revolution.”
“This new initiative has big potential to help accelerate access to the Internet for everyone,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We’re focused on delivering high quality mobile devices to ensure that the next five billion people have great mobile Internet experiences.”
The Internet.org website launches today and provides an overview of the mission and goals, as well as a full list of the partners. In the coming weeks, it will feature interviews with technology leaders and experts, along with the latest news on Internet.org activities.