At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the Internet Society, a global nonprofit advocating for an open and secure Internet, announced an expanded partnership with Meta alongside the launch of a $30 million Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative. This initiative, backed by the Internet Society and its foundation, aims to accelerate global efforts to provide affordable and reliable Internet access, with funding allocated through 2030.
Meta has signed on as the first co-funding partner, reinforcing its long-standing collaboration with the Internet Society. The initiative calls for additional partners to help bridge the global connectivity gap, as 2.6 billion people remain without Internet access, limiting their opportunities in education, healthcare, and economic development.
Since 2018, Meta and the Internet Society have collaborated to improve Internet resilience by developing Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), training technical communities, and expanding critical infrastructure. Their work has resulted in 56 IXPs across 45 countries, enabling millions to access faster and more affordable connectivity.
The new Co-Funding Initiative focuses on six key areas to drive sustainable change:
Funding and Advocacy – Investing in infrastructure deployment and empowering local communities to manage their networks.
Addressing Market Gaps – Filling gaps where commercial providers lack viable business incentives.
Enhancing Training – Expanding technical capacity-building programs to empower marginalized groups and foster new Internet leaders.
Community-Centered Solutions – Strengthening last-mile Internet access for businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities in underserved areas.
Sustainable Networks – Supporting locally owned, scalable Internet networks that create jobs and promote self-reliance.
Global Advocacy Mobilization – Leveraging the Internet Society’s 130 local chapters and 133,000 members to amplify impact worldwide.
Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society, highlighted the initiative’s transformative potential: “This Co-Funding Initiative, supported by Meta, exemplifies collective action to close the global connectivity gap. We aim to provide meaningful Internet access to more than 2 billion people still lacking reliable connections.”
Aaron Russell, Director of Edge Network Infrastructure at Meta, emphasized Meta’s commitment to bridging the digital divide: “By expanding our partnership with the Internet Society, we are fostering innovation and connectivity for all. This initiative complements our infrastructure investments, including subsea cables, making the Internet more reliable and cost-effective.”
The Internet Society is now seeking additional partners to co-fund the initiative and drive sustainable digital inclusion on a global scale.
