Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, March 2 (Xinhua)-- Microsoft has announced new partnerships and initiatives with 46 least developed countries (LDCs). The technology giant will work with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa's largest independent optical network company, to provide Internet access to an additional 20 million people in Africa by 2025.

According to CTOnews.com, the partnership is part of Microsoft's Airband initiative to provide high-speed Internet connectivity to communities around the world that do not have access to the Internet. The agreement will bring high-speed Internet access to less developed areas of LDCs, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

"50 years have passed since the United Nations defined LDCs as the country that most needs social, economic and environmental opportunities to create growth," said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft. "these 46 countries account for 13% of the world's population, but only 1.5% of global GDP and less than 1% of global trade. Obviously, we need to do more."

Microsoft has also launched a new skills training initiative with the International Organization of employers and Synapse, which will train 20, 000 youth, women and entrepreneurs in four LDCs to improve their digital, business and employment skills. High-speed Internet access will require more resources to develop the digital ecosystem.

Smith added: "the private sector can play an important role in creating opportunities for the 880 million people living in LDCs, where only 36 per cent of the population currently uses the Internet. It is important for Microsoft to do its part. The need for public-private partnerships has never been more obvious. This is not a charity, but a business necessity-and a call to do more for all of us. "

Microsoft will also expand its partnership with OCP Africa's digital agriculture platform, which will provide customized fertilizer solutions based on local conditions and soil and crop needs in Africa, which will support more than 40 million farmers and agricultural stakeholders in Africa.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.