After its January pledge to commit $1 billion in cloud-based services to nonprofits, Microsoft is pitching in on the effort of improving global Internet access.
Through its Affordable Access Initiative, the software company is awarding grants to 12 for-profit organizations in 11 different countries. Each of the grant recipients will receive between $70,000 and $150,000 to expand Internet access, according to The New York Times. They'll also be able to participate in annual summits, receive support from Microsoft and have access to a global network of mentors.
Here are the 12 recipients of Microsoft's Affordable Access Initiative grants.
- African Renewable Energy Distributor — Rwanda
- New Sun Road — Uganda
- Zaya Learning Labs — India
- AirJaldi — India
- Axiom Technologies — U.S.
- C3: Communications Consulting Centre — Malawi
- Ekovolt — Nigeria
- Wi-Fi Interactive Network — Philippines
- Kelase — Indonesia
- Movivo — United Kingdom
- Tambero.com — Argentina
- Vista Botswana — Botswana
Microsoft's technique for improving global Internet access differs from that of other tech giants such as Google and Facebook, who have struck deals with other countries and plan on using drones to deliver Internet access from the sky.
"We are taking a different approach than some of the others in the area. We are partnering with the locals," said Peggy Johnson, Microsoft's executive vice president for business development, according to the Times. "We are focused on the here and now and what you can do in the existing ecosystem."