Microsoft, Viasat Join Hands To Boost Internet Access To Underserved Communities

Microsoft Corp MSFT and Viasat Inc VSAT collaborated to help deliver internet access to 10 million people around the globe, including 5 million across Africa.
Viasat, a global communications company, is the first satellite partner to work with Microsoft's Airband Initiative.
Together they aim to consolidate Airband's work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Guatemala, Mexico, and the U.S. and prioritize expanding the program to Egypt, Senegal, and Angola to deliver much-needed internet connection, often for the first time.
Also Read: ViaSat - Inmarsat Deal Faces Regulatory Hiccup
The companies will combine expertise and assets to help enable telehealth, distance learning and education, precision agriculture, clean power, and other services to reach new areas.
"Through our Airband Initiative, we will extend high-speed internet access to 100 million people on the continent of Africa and to a quarter of a billion people living in unserved and underserved areas across the world by 2025," said Teresa Hutson, Microsoft's vice president of Technology and Corporate Responsibility.
This partnership builds upon the existing relationship between Viasat and Microsoft Azure Space to deliver advances in satellite connectivity and furthers Microsoft's mission to connect anyone, anywhere on the planet.
Price Action: VSAT shares traded higher by 2.03% at $31.22 on the last check Wednesday.
Photo Via Company