Alliance for Affordable Internet
Company type | Global Coalition |
---|---|
Founded | 2013 |
Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
Area served | Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America |
Key people | Sonia Jorge (Executive Director), Eleanor Sarpong (Deputy Director & Policy Lead) |
Products | Affordability Report, Affordability Drivers Index, Mobile Broadband Pricing, Mobile Device Pricing |
Services | Public Comments, Technical Assistance, |
Website | a4ai |
The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) is an initiative to make the Internet more affordable to people around the world. The World Wide Web Foundation serves as the Secretariat, and major members of coalition include Google, the Omidyar Network, the Department for International Development, USAID, Facebook, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, UN Women and many others from the public, private and civil society sectors.[1][2]
History
Purpose
A4AI was created with the goal of obtaining global broadband internet access priced at less than 5% of average per capita income globally; the target of the
It claims the internet as being an essential source of information and services for all and advocates an open, competitive broadband and telecommunications market, regulated by an independent agency. Particular attention is paid to internet freedom and the rights of online expression.[3]
It works closely with governments and local stakeholders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on policy and regulatory reform through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing activities.[1]
Launch
The initiative was officially launched on October 7, 2013, at the "Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Forum" in Abuja, Nigeria.[4] The launch was covered by many news sources.[5][6][7][8]
Reception
A4AI was briefly discussed in relation to
1 for 2 target
The A4AI has also coined the term "affordability threshold" in its "1 for 2 target". It considers the affordability threshold to be at 1GB of mobile broadband data priced at 2% or less of average monthly income.[10][11] The UN Broadband Commission has adopted the “1 for 2” target as the new standard for affordable internet.[12]
Criticism
See also
- Internet.org
- Project Loon
- O3b Networks
References
- ^ a b "Vision and Strategy". Alliance for Affordable Internet. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "Members". Alliance for Affordable Internet. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ Spore. "Internet access for all: Interview with Sonia Jorge, Executive Director of A4AI" (PDF). CTA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "Joining forces to adPigeon JOY Unlimited 1.8DX 1.8 L Rice Cookerfthhhvocate for a more affordable Internet". Google.org. October 7, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ZDNet. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ Ferenstein, Gregory (October 7, 2013). "The Internet Costs 30% Of Monthly Wages In Some Nations. Google Wants To Help". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- Huffington Post. October 7, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "Google, Facebook Back Effort to Make Internet Affordable for All". Mashable. October 7, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- Technology Review. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ Affordability report 2018
- ^ Affordable internet is 1 for 2
- ^ UN broadband commission adopts new target
- ^ Gurstein, Michael. "A4AI: Who Could Oppose a More Affordable Internet? The Alliance for an Affordable Internet (A4AI) and the Neo-liberal Stealth Campaign to Control the Internet Throughout the Developing World and Make Big Bucks for the Private Sector While Doing So". Gurstein's Community Informatics. Michael Gurstein. Retrieved 21 March 2016.