Viasat and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership to expand internet access for underserved communities worldwide.
The International Telecommunication Union estimates that roughly one-third of the global population—about 2.7 billion people—have never used the internet. Lack of reliable connectivity limits access to education, employment, health services, and civic participation, and can constrain other basic rights such as freedom of expression.
As part of this collaboration, Viasat will become the first satellite partner of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, a program that brings together private companies, public institutions, and non-profit organizations to deliver affordable internet to areas with little or no connectivity.
Microsoft reports that Airband has already helped connect more than 51 million people globally, including roughly four million in the United States and nine million across Africa. Teresa Hutson, Microsoft’s Vice President of Technology and Corporate Responsibility, stated that the initiative aims to expand high-speed internet access to 100 million people across Africa and to 250 million people in unserved and underserved regions worldwide by 2025.
Satellite connectivity from Viasat will enable the Airband Initiative to reach remote communities that lack practical options for traditional infrastructure. By combining satellite services with other technologies and local partnerships, Microsoft and Viasat plan to scale deployments more rapidly and explore projects in new countries and regions.
There is no single solution for closing the digital divide. In some cases, laying fiber is impractical due to high cost or difficult terrain. In other deployments, Microsoft has used unused television broadcast frequencies—known as TV white space—to extend coverage in rural areas. The addition of Viasat’s satellite capabilities complements these efforts by providing reliable broadband where terrestrial alternatives are not feasible.
“We’re proud to partner with Microsoft as it represents another important step in bringing affordable internet service across Africa, Latin America and the US,” said Evan Dixon, President, Global Fixed Broadband at Viasat. “Both companies are working to remove barriers, advance digital equity, and expand inclusion.”
Dixon added that delivering internet access at scale is an ambitious challenge that must be undertaken sustainably and responsibly to create lasting economic and social opportunities for communities that need them most.
(Photo by Uriel SC on Unsplash)
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