Microsoft has launched a new fund for startups and other commercial companies interested in providing affordable Internet access to underserved markets across the globe.
The fund will help companies’ effort in providing last-mile access technologies, cloud-based services and applications, new payment mechanisms, and other innovative business models that help get people online. The said fund is part of Microsoft's Affordable Access Initiative (AAI) and open to any commercial company (excluding non-profits) with two or more full-time employees that already has a working solution to the internet access problem, according to TechCrunch.
Commercial companies’ working solution should help reduce the cost of Internet access and help more people get online in a cost effective manner. In addition to receiving on average about $75,000 in funding and free software and services, recipients will also have the opportunity to connect with other grant recipients and potential funders.
Microsoft’s plan is also similiar to other initiatives from the likes of Facebook, which has been pushing its Internet.org “Free Basics” service in developing markets like India. Also, Google offers the Project Loon, which serves up Internet access using balloons.
AAI fund also supports related efforts like the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, aimed at investing in the economic development in the region, and the Microsoft’s deployment of TV white spaces technology, a move to repurpose unused TV frequencies in order to provide affordable Internet access to communities, Venture Beat reported.
Microsoft Executive Vice President (Business Development) Peggy Johnson said Microsoft hopes that this fund will kick start the entrepreneurial process by identifying promising ideas that it can help nurture, grow and scale.
Interested parties must submit proposals by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Jan. 15, 2016 to be considered. Chosen companies will also retain their own IP, including copyrights, patents, trademarks, and more, though Microsoft may provide limited technical guidance related to deployment, plus advice and suggestions with regard to business plans, architecture, feature set, and performance.