Making the Internet Affordable – Internet.org
You may have noticed the other day when you were watching HGTV or any channel that an advertisement came up about Internet.org. The campaign’s storylines are about real people living in real places. People who aren’t connected to the internet and how their lives are unfolding, how the internet could improve their lives and the lives of other people around the world.
Internet.org isn’t a brand new idea. Facebook’s principal founder and current CEO Mark Zuckerberg began this project on August 20, 2013. “Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative bringing together technology leaders, nonprofits and local communities to connect the two thirds of the world that doesn’t have internet access.” – Internet.org. The concept is based around the idea that knowledge is the new way our economy is run. That people around the world can benefit from the innovation and creativity found on the internet.
In countries where access to the internet isn’t accessible is due to various reasons.
Devices are too expensive. Service plans are too costly. Mobile networks don’t offer full coverage. Content isn’t available in the local language. People aren’t sure what value the internet will bring. Power sources are limited or costly. Networks can’t support large amounts of data.
Internet.org currently works in partnership with Facebook, Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Microsoft, Opera Software, Reliance and Qualcomm. How does Mark and his team of partners plan to bring the Internet to the world? As mentioned in the video, the organization plans to reduce the cost to serve this data by ten fold. As well, as implementing tools to reduce the amount of data by ten fold. How can this be done? By having Apps cache data and having this data more compressed.
It is an interesting and exciting idea that everyone around the world could have access to the tools of the internet. Farmers could have access to information to improve crop yields. Students can research for their class projects. Doctors can communicate with doctors around the world. A local safari tour operator in Africa can build business relations with someone in Canada. The possibilities are endless. It is another huge step towards globalization. Become part of the conversation at #connecttheworld.