Uniting to Accelerate Digital Inclusion

The 50x15 Partner Program fosters end-to-end collaborative relationships, facilitating the development and deployment of technology solutions to markets that need it most. By utilizing an ecosystem of participants — local and global, public and private — the 50x15 Initiative encourages involvement from a wide range of entities. It makes sense. After all, bridging the digital divide isn’t just an act of goodwill: It’s good business.

50x15 Partners and Participants

Establishing sustainability requires vital resources. Based on research gathered from previous deployments, ensuring the following key areas of an Internet connectivity ecosystem can translate into success. The 50x15 Partner Program focuses on six key areas of development as identified by the ITAFE Global Benchmarking Study.

• Power – grid based, solar, or manual power generation
• Connectivity - wired, wireless, or satellite service providers
• Devices - servers, personal computers, laptops, thin clients, smart phones, and other tools people use to access the Internet
• Financing - government programs, financial institutions and foundations that provide micro-loans and other means for helping local people afford Internet access tools and services
• Content - locally relevant software applications and information available in multiple languages
• Expertise - training, repair services, and general ecosystem support
• Structure Design - pre-planning for technology when designing a building can greatly increase efficiency and longevity of a digital inclusion project. Structure design encompasses everything from the building that houses the digital inclusion center (school, health clinic, Internet café, etc.) to the type of LAN and power connections installed at the site