Meta and the Internet Society have launched the Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative, a new project aimed at expanding affordable internet connections worldwide.
Announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the initiative commits a $30 million investment through 2030 to support infrastructure development in communities that have been overlooked by commercial providers.
The initiative will fund projects designed to improve connectivity in underserved areas, with investments directed toward building locally owned networks, community-centered solutions, and training programs to enhance technical skills in marginalized regions. This effort builds on a longstanding partnership between Meta and the Internet Society, which has previously focused on developing internet exchange points (IXPs) in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society, emphasized the importance of collective action. “This new Connectivity Co-Funding initiative, supported by Meta, is a prime example of collective action that will help provide meaningful access to more than 2 billion people across the world with insufficient or no Internet,” Wentworth said. She expressed hope that the initiative would play a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide and fostering a more equitable digital society.
Meta is the first partner in the initiative, and the Internet Society is now calling for additional partners to help grow the fund and extend its impact. The partnership underscores a commitment to leveraging private and non-profit collaboration to address global connectivity challenges and promote economic growth and social inclusion through improved access to the internet.
Meta announced it had been hit with a "substantial" fine for refusing to comply with Turkish government demands to restrict content on Facebook and Instagram.
In a move that could significantly boost India's artificial intelligence landscape, tech leaders OpenAI and Meta Platforms have engaged in separate discussions with Reliance Industries, according to a report by The Information.
Meta confirmed to CNBC that an error on Instagram is causing some users’ Reels feeds to display violent and sexually explicit videos that would not normally be recommended by the platform’s algorithms. The company stated it is actively working to resolve the issue and apologized for the mistake.
According to a report by The Information, Meta Platforms is in discussions to build a new data center campus dedicated to its artificial intelligence projects, with potential costs exceeding $200 billion.
Menlo Park, CA, February 17, 2025 – Newly unsealed court documents from the case Kadrey v. Meta shed light on internal discussions among Meta employees about the use of copyrighted materials to train the company’s artificial intelligence models.
Spain has stepped forward with a bold €14.1 billion relief package to shield its economy from the ripple effects of new U.S. tariffs, as Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo warns of potential hits to the country’s GDP amid growing global trade tensions.
BP Chair Helge Lund intends to step down "likely during 2026" and the process to pick his successor has started, the energy group said on Friday amid a campaign by activist hedge fund Elliott for more change at the company.
The Israeli military said on Friday it had killed Hassan Farhat, a commander of Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Sidon region of southern Lebanon.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued a stark warning on Thursday, cautioning that the latest tariff measures announced by US President Donald Trump could deepen economic uncertainty and threaten global growth.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has expanded its ground operations in northern Gaza today. The military stated that the operations aim to widen Israel’s buffer zone along the Gaza border.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
Neuralink plans to implant its first Blindsight vision chip in a human by the end of the year, enabling vision for those born blind, according to Elon Musk. The device could eventually surpass natural vision, allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and radar ranges.
Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of strange metals—materials that defy conventional understanding of electricity and magnetism
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
The model aims to enhance Alibaba’s presence in the generative AI sector and is available as open-source.
OpenAI has asked the US government to permit AI companies to use copyrighted material for training to maintain America's leadership in AI development, as part of a proposal aligned with President Trump's upcoming "AI Action Plan."
Spain has stepped forward with a bold €14.1 billion relief package to shield its economy from the ripple effects of new U.S. tariffs, as Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo warns of potential hits to the country’s GDP amid growing global trade tensions.
BP Chair Helge Lund intends to step down "likely during 2026" and the process to pick his successor has started, the energy group said on Friday amid a campaign by activist hedge fund Elliott for more change at the company.
The Israeli military said on Friday it had killed Hassan Farhat, a commander of Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Sidon region of southern Lebanon.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued a stark warning on Thursday, cautioning that the latest tariff measures announced by US President Donald Trump could deepen economic uncertainty and threaten global growth.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has expanded its ground operations in northern Gaza today. The military stated that the operations aim to widen Israel’s buffer zone along the Gaza border.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment