Liquid partners Microsoft’s Airband Initiative to connect 20 million underserved Africans by 2025
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a leading connectivity, innovation and intelligent technology company has announced its collaboration with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, to deliver internet access, and bridge the digital divide among 20 million underserved people in Africa by the end of 2025.
APO Group, a leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service in Africa, disclosed the information on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies,the subsidiary of Cassava Technologies.
According to the information,the new collaboration will target regions that include but are not limited to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The partnership will also allow for increased proliferation of high-speed connectivity to the farthest parts of Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Working together, the companies will empower individuals and businesses in some of the United Nations’ least developed countries to help bridge the digital divide and assist in transitioning more African countries into the digital economy.
According to the International Telecommunication Union, roughly 2.7 billion people globally remain unconnected because it’s either unavailable or they can’t afford it. Rural areas around the world are especially disadvantaged, as traditional telecom infrastructure fails to go the final mile in low-density regions.
To this end, the effort of Microsoft and Liquid will be discussed during a panel discussion at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).
Speaking on the collaboration, Nic Rudnick, group deputy chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies said: “Access to high-speed connectivity is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. With a fibre backbone of over 100,000 km across the continent, Liquid is uniquely positioned to bring high-speed connectivity to the remotest of communities. Our vision is to create a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, and this is just one more investment from us to realise the vision.”
On his part, Vickie Robinson, general manager of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative disclosed that strategic partnerships are key to advancing access to connectivity and digital equity, especially in the world’s most critical markets.
“Internet access is a fundamental right, enabling economic opportunity and development. This new collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies builds upon our existing collaboration to catalyse economic growth and development in Africa, enabling us to accelerate our efforts to extend high-speed internet to a quarter of a billion people by the end of 2025, including 100 million in Africa,” Robinson added.
The partnership of Microsoft and Liquid is expected to play a critical role in helping to secure the future of Africans on the continent, thus paving the way for a true, digitally inclusive economy. It will further exacerbate the digital divide in Africa by providing access to high-speed connectivity.
Microsoft’s Airband Initiative has partnered with a wide-ranging ecosystem of organisations to design, implement and support programs that deliver unique connectivity solutions designed for local communities and their challenges. This includes working with broadband providers, local ISPs, energy partners, international organisations and local governments to deliver internet access in unserved or underserved communities worldwide.