Facebook recently rolled out an update for the Notes feature. (Photo : Reuters)
As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke at the United Nations (UN) this week, he is also teaming up with U2's Bono to achieve universal Internet access by the year 2020. Several celebrities and charities such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have signed the One organization's Connectivity Declaration.
The UN is considering Global Goals, a plan for the economic and social challenges of developing and under-developed countries. Zuckerberg will address the Internet's role in those goals.
In a New York Times op-ed that Zuckerberg co-authored with Bono, the former wrote that half of the world's population has no Internet access. He said that the situation benefits no one.
A recent UN report on worldwide broadband access noted that 57 percent of the planet's population is unconnected, according to PC Mag. That is 4 billion people. Just 35 percent of people have Web access in developing nations.
Zuckerberg mentioned South American women who use mobile phones to get health information. He also referred to African famers who use the Web to track prices and inventory.
Facebook's CEO said that the problem is finding a way to connect the world. There is no "simple solution."
For example, one challenge is supplying Internet access to regions without electricity. That includes 90 percent of rural Africans.
Zuckerberg mentioned a few government initiatives that are working to achieve such goals. However, he believes that the private sector should build on them, according to Fortune.
Facebook's Internet.org strives to expand worldwide Internet access. While he also mentioned similar programs of Google, Microsoft, and Intel, Zuckerberg and Bono argued that Silicon Valley should still be more proactive.
This video shows Mark Zuckerberg & Bono at the UN:
