The fund, backed by a $30 million investment through 2030 from the Internet Society and its foundation, seeks additional partners to help connect the 2.6 billion people still without internet access.
Meta has signed on as the first co-funding partner, reinforcing its long-standing collaboration with the Internet Society, having worked with the non-profit since 2018.
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To build on their prior work, which has resulted in 56 Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across 45 countries, the new co-funding initiative will look to expand last-mile connectivity in underserved areas.
The new project will also look to address market gaps where traditional providers see no business case, as well as provide technical training to build expertise and empower communities.
“This initiative, supported by Meta, is a prime example of collective action that will help provide meaningful access to more than 2 billion people,” said Sally Wentworth, president and CEO of the Internet Society.
Aaron Russell, director of edge network infrastructure at Meta, emphasised the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide: “This partnership complements our existing infrastructure investments, including subsea cables, to make internet access more reliable and affordable.”
With calls for additional co-funding partners beyond the social media giant, the Internet Society hopes its latest project will drive lasting change in global connectivity.
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