Non-discriminating access for Digital Inclusion
Project leads
Focus countries
Funding source
Period
Partner Institutions
Contact leader for the project
Josef Noll
The DigiI.BasicInternet.no (DigI) project addresses the vision of “Internet light for all”, the free access to information for everyone. “Internet light for all” and the development of sustainable digital infrastructures has technological, social and economic aspects, and is the basis for the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project addresses digital health information and job creation, with a focus on youth and women to acquire job relevant skills, and a special emphasis on digital skills and entrepreneurship. Specific focus is given including the groups of people that are left-aside in a purely revenue-oriented operation. The envisaged pilots will demonstrate the ability to establish a profitable business as mobile operator and internet provider, especially in rural areas. Given the example of Tanzania, mobile operations are well advanced in cities, sub-urban areas and regional centres. But 13 million people in roughly 4.000 villages are still unconnected. On top of that, the limited budget of as little as 1 US$/month for communication does not allow the access of bandwidth demanding (e.g. video) information in health and education. The envisaged pilots are bringing two aspects to information provision, being free access (i) to the InfoInternet and (ii) to local content, e.g. health information. Access to text and pictures, the InfoInternet, costs less than 3% of the bandwidth, allowing more than 97% of the capacity to be used for commercial operations. The expected final outcome with information spots in the selected villages will pave the way for digital inclusion of everyone, through the alliance of 11 partners.