Alliance for Affordable Internet Aims to Bridge the Digital Divide

The Alliance for Affordable Internet is a coalition of organizations working together to make internet access more affordable and accessible for people around the world.

Their goal is ambitious: to bring the cost of internet access down to 2% of average monthly income, making it within reach of people in developing countries.

This goal is based on a simple yet powerful idea: that everyone deserves access to the internet, regardless of their income or location.

The Alliance is working with governments, private companies, and other organizations to make this vision a reality.

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The Alliance for Affordable Internet, or A4AI, has a fascinating history.

The initiative was officially launched on October 7, 2013, at the "Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Forum" in Abuja, Nigeria.

This launch was a significant milestone for A4AI, and it was covered by many news sources, spreading the word about the organization's mission to make the internet more affordable and accessible worldwide.

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The launch of A4AI was a significant milestone in its history. It took place on October 7, 2013, at the "Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Forum" in Abuja, Nigeria. This event was covered by many news sources, marking the beginning of A4AI's public presence.

The Early Years of A4AI were marked by a significant shift in the global digital landscape, with the organization's founding in 2014. This was a pivotal moment, as it brought together industry leaders, governments, and civil society to address the challenges of internet access and digital inclusion.

A4AI was launched with a clear mission to bridge the digital divide and make the internet more affordable and accessible to people around the world. The organization's founders recognized that internet access was becoming increasingly essential for economic and social development.

The first few years of A4AI were focused on building partnerships and coalitions with key stakeholders, including governments, mobile network operators, and technology companies. This collaborative approach was key to driving progress and achieving the organization's goals.

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In 2015, A4AI published its first report, which highlighted the need for policy and regulatory reforms to support affordable internet access. This report was a call to action, urging governments and industry leaders to take concrete steps to address the digital divide.

A4AI's early years also saw the launch of several initiatives, including the Alliance's first policy brief, which provided recommendations for governments on how to promote affordable internet access. These efforts helped to raise awareness and build momentum for the organization's mission.

A4AI's purpose is to make global broadband internet access priced at less than 5% of average per capita income globally a reality, aligning with the UN Broadband Commission's target.

The organization identifies lack of investment in infrastructure, market competition, and inefficient taxation as major constraints to reducing prices.

A4AI advocates for an open, competitive broadband and telecommunications market, regulated by an independent agency, and prioritizes internet freedom and online expression.

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Its goal is to make internet access an essential source of information and services for all.

A4AI works closely with governments and local stakeholders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on policy and regulatory reform through advocacy, research, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Key to A4AI's mission is the concept of an "affordability threshold", which is defined as 1GB of mobile broadband data priced at 2% or less of average monthly income.

A4AI has coined the term "1 for 2 target", which the UN Broadband Commission has adopted as the new standard for affordable internet.

The organization's focus on affordability is not just about pricing, but also about making internet access a necessity for economic development and sustainable growth.

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The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has received recognition and support from various organizations and governments, including the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

A4AI's work has been cited by several governments in their national broadband plans, including the Philippines and Senegal.

A4AI's efforts have helped to inform policy decisions and shape the global agenda on affordable internet access.

The organization's research has also been used by other advocacy groups, such as the Internet Society and the World Wide Web Foundation.

A4AI's membership has grown to include over 50 organizations from around the world, including governments, private sector companies, and civil society groups.

A4AI's work has helped to drive down prices and increase access to affordable internet services in several countries, including India and Ghana.

A4AI's advocacy efforts have also helped to raise awareness about the importance of affordable internet access for economic development and social inclusion.

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The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has faced criticism for its approach to promoting affordable internet access in developing countries. Michael Gurstein, a critic of A4AI, argues that the organization's guiding principles are based on neoliberal assumptions.

A4AI's guidelines for adoption as policy and regulatory practice by Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are said to rest on these neoliberal assumptions. This approach is criticized for being pre-determined by the input principles, rather than allowing for alternative perspectives.

The use of Universal Service Fund facilities, promoted by the World Bank, is also seen as problematic. These facilities often attract large budgets, but control is retained by private service providers, which can lead to a mismatch with local needs.

Critics argue that A4AI's priorities may be skewed towards encouraging LDC governments to adopt neoliberal policies, rather than focusing on actual affordable access.

The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has built a strong network through its partnerships and collaborations.

One notable partnership is with the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which was announced on January 26, 2021.

This partnership aims to help countries identify and utilize relevant technology to advance economic development.

A4AI also works closely with the UN Technology Bank on a regional and national level to foster partnerships and drive economic progress.

A4AI's advocacy and research efforts focus on policy and regulatory reform to increase affordable internet access worldwide.

Together with the UN Technology Bank, A4AI is using its connections to build an even stronger and more influential network.

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A4AI emphasizes networking and knowledge-sharing in its 2021 plan for increasing affordable internet access. The Alliance for Affordable Internet has a clear strategy to make internet access more affordable and accessible to all.

A4AI has four strategic focuses to achieve its goal. These focuses include advocating for cost-effective and meaningful connectivity, boosting country and regional engagements, developing and democratizing knowledge, and strengthening A4AI engagements and strategic collaborations.

A4AI's approach to advocacy involves sharing resources and tools for affordable internet policy with policymakers and other stakeholders through knowledge-sharing programs. This effort goes both ways, as A4AI seeks to learn from the experiences of others as much as it seeks to recruit new partners.

A4AI uses its partnerships to promote policy and regulatory reform on a regional level. Its flexible coalition model emphasizes “bottom-up policy change” in currently engaged countries. A4AI will tackle policy issues such as taxation, rural broadband, and infrastructure sharing.

A4AI produces evidence-based research focusing on “affordable access, meaningful access, and sustainable access.” Research efforts include monitoring internet access and innovations in affordable internet policy worldwide. Sustainable access is a new focus for A4AI, examining affordable internet access in the context of climate change and sustainability.

A4AI boasts more than 100 members with whom it seeks to deepen its partnerships through greater technical assistance and other complementary opportunities. This includes a study in conjunction with the Internet Society Foundation on “the economic impact of the digital gender divide on digital economies.”

A4AI's ultimate goal is to achieve universal internet access to close the digital and economic divides between developed and developing economies and between rural and urban areas.

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