Microsoft announced that it has entered into partnerships with several organisations to extend its Airband initiative across Latin America and Africa to provide internet access to nearly 40 million people. The countries included in this expansion include Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Guatemala, and Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Microsoft Airband initiative was launched to bring transformative connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Through the Airband initiative and its partners, Microsoft is serving as a catalyst to enable affordable access to connectivity, specifically focusing on regions with lower digital connectivity rates.
In Africa, Microsoft is building upon its existing partnerships in Africa, including with Tizeti and Mawingu:
- Partnership with Tizeti in Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire: The partnership between Microsoft and Tizeti has extended its coverage to over 900,000 individuals in Nigeria. This expansion has gone beyond Lagos to concentrate on underserved regions throughout the country. Building on this success, Microsoft and Tizeti are now collaborating to bring internet access to nearly five million individuals in Cote d’Ivoire, a vibrant hub in West Africa. Recognizing the challenges posed by limited or unreliable electricity in many African areas, this partnership’s expansion includes the provision of infrastructure support and the installation of eight solar powered towers. These initiatives aim to offer connectivity to households, small businesses, and hotspots, enabling improved access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
- Partnership with Mawingu in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda: Since its inception in 2014, Microsoft Airband has been working in collaboration with Kenyan service provider Mawingu. Initially starting with a pilot program in Nanyuki, the partnership has now expanded to provide high-speed internet access to four million individuals residing in rural areas of Kenya. Mawingu was the first partner of Airband, and their joint efforts, under a public-partnership model, have propelled Mawingu to become the leading internet service provider in Kenya, focusing on rural and peri-urban markets. The recent expansion of the partnership with Mawingu aims to extend coverage to an additional 16 million people across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda by the end of 2025, resulting in a total coverage of 20 million individuals. Mawingu plays a crucial role in offering meaningful internet access to various locations in Kenya, including hotspots, vocational schools, and businesses. One notable example of the Airband and Mawingu partnership is the successful deployment of more than 700 hotspots and the provision of connectivity to over 100 primary schools. These initiatives have enabled community members to access digital skills training and essential educational resources. Moreover, Mawingu has collaborated with Unilever and Microsoft Philanthropies to provide internet access and skill-building opportunities for female entrepreneurs, contributing to their empowerment and economic development.
In Latin America, Airband, with greater access to the internet through its partners, hopes to address societal issues such as employment and education, which can be strengthened through greater connectivity.
- Brazil: Airband is expanding our footprint to Brazil, the largest market in Latin America, as part of our new partnership with Brisanet. Working with Microsoft and NGOs like Amigos do Bem and Mais Unidos, Brisanet will extend high-speed internet access to more than 11 million people and support social and economic development in low-income regions of the country.
- Chile: Fundación País Digital is a nonprofit organization working to develop Chile’s digital economy, expand connectivity, and improve digital literacy throughout the country. Through their newest initiative, Programa Conectando Territorios, Fundación País Digital will expand connectivity to rural and underserved areas in two regions: the Biobío Region in central Chile, which has been significantly impacted by earthquakes, and the Antofagasta Region, known for its mining industry. With Airband support, in addition to connectivity, the program will target economic opportunities through training and employing local community members to maintain the new networks and will bring internet access to an additional one million people by the end of 2025.
- Colombia: Our commitment with longtime partner Anditel to provide coverage for more than 600,000 people in five years has gone well ahead of plan. To date we have nearly doubled that target and are now expanding our partnership to cover an additional three million people by the end of 2025. Partnering with the Colombian government on ICT 360, the national connectivity program, Anditel aims to cover 85% of Colombians by 2026.
- Guatemala: Wayfree is the leading provider of internet connectivity in Guatemala. They are deploying wireless access zones in towns and villages, already covering over 40% of the 340 Guatemalan municipalities with the goal of making universal wireless internet access a reality. Airband’s support will catalyze deployments in the remaining municipalities in Guatemala and ultimately provide three million people with access to high-speed internet coverage by the end of 2025.
Through partnering with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, organizations have additional support to create the infrastructure needed to provide connectivity support in many different ecosystems that ultimately drives self-empowerment and sustainable development and growth. These partnerships are essential in providing local expertise and experience to help achieve a greater goal tied to what can be harnessed with the support of connectivity.
