A diverse group of private and public sector companies, including technology giant Google, have launched the Alliance for Affordable Internet in a bid to lead policy and regulatory reform, as well as spur action to drive down "artificially high internet prices" in developing countries.
Global sponsors Google, Omidyar Network, UK DFID and USAID were joined by a host of governments, tech companies and civil society organisations from developed and developing countries in the launch of new initiative, backed by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
A4AI aims to help access prices fall to below 5% of monthly income worldwide, a target set by the UN Broadband Commission. Reaching this goal, it says, can help to connect the two-thirds of the world that the ITU estimates is presently not connected to the internet and make universal access a reality.
"Members share a belief that that policy reform, underpinned by robust research and genuine knowledge-sharing, is one of the best ways to unlock rapid gains in internet penetration rates," A4AI said.
The Alliance was initiated by the World Wide Web Foundation. A4AI stressed it has "a strong focus on action" and announced it will begin in-country engagements with three to four States by the end of 2013, expanding to at least twelve countries by the end of 2015.
A4AI will produce an annual ‘Affordability Report’, with the first edition being unveiled in December 2013.
Andoid Games
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