Microsoft Africa internet plan moves forward with fibre deal
The agreement, with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, by 2025 aims to widen connectivity in countries such as Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 20 million people, out of Microsoft's previously announced 100 million target.
"Our goal here is to use digital technology and investment as a catalyst to create more economic opportunity for the population," Smith told Reuters on Tuesday, 28 February ahead of next week's U.N. conference on the least developed countries.
Cloud computing and AI
The effort aims to build a new cloud computing and AI market longer-term, which would benefit Microsoft, Smith has said.
The software maker's so-called Airband initiative brings together telecoms and electricity providers, non-profits and governments to increase internet access.
Smith also said Microsoft would work to improve food production in Africa through various partnerships, including applying artificial intelligence to monitor crops.
Source: Reuters
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day.
Go to: https://www.reuters.com/About Jeffrey Dastin
Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Bill BerkrotRelated
Africa’s entertainment and media industry: A positive story of resilience and expansion 28 Jan 2025 Telkom secures Icasa approval for R6.75bn Swiftnet sale 17 Dec 2024 Cassava Technologies CMO Ifeoma Jibunoh went from beers to broadband 18 Nov 2024 Maziv 'disappointed' by tribunal outcome 29 Oct 2024 SA fibre providers are bridging the connectivity gap 24 Oct 2024 Zoho is focused on growing local talent and AI integration 13 Aug 2024
