Mark Zuckerberg, Bono and Bill Gates were among the initial signatories of a United Nations pledge to make the internet accessible to everyone on the planet at a a New York summit overnight.
The pledge forms part of the UN’s goal to eradicate extreme poverty entirely by 2030, and aims to boost resources for roughly half of the world’s population who do not have reliable access to the web.
The pledge reads, in part:
“When people have access to the tools and knowledge of the internet, they have access to opportunities that make life better for all of us.The internet belongs to everyone. It should be accessible by everyone.”
On Facebook, Mark Zuckerbeg wrote about the game-changing potential of connecting billions more to the internet:
I just spoke at the United Nations. World leaders are here at the UN to approve a new set of Global Goals that address…
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday, 26 September 2015
Exact costing on the Connect The World project is yet to be released, however it’s estimated to cost between $3.5 trillion and $5 trillion annually.
YES: We’re joining forces with Mark Zuckerberg to #ConnectTheWorld & achieve the #GlobalGoals: http://t.co/FoL31DgJi6 pic.twitter.com/vTZWRBm3Y8
— ONE (@ONECampaign) September 26, 2015
via ABC.
