The Wireless Broadband Alliance announced its first World Wi-Fi Day Thursday as part of an initiative to accelerate affordable wireless connectivity around the world.
Scheduled for June 20, the occasion will focus on drawing attention to the divide between connected and unconnected societies, the group said.
“There is a growing divide between the digital haves and the digital have-nots – and this is not just an emerging market issue, it’s a global issue,” Wireless Broadband Alliance CEO Shrikant Shenwai said in a statement. “As the only universal unlicensed and affordable public access network, Wi-Fi connectivity will be the key to bridging the global digital divide – connecting the unconnected and underserved.”
Shenwai said the alliance is encouraging cities, governments, operators and tech giants like Facebook Google and Microsoft to be a part of the effort to bridge the divide.
The movement comes as industry and regulatory participants have increasingly made broadband access a priority.
At the FCC, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has steadfastly taken up the cause, pushing for the adoption of a permanent mobility fund to bring a critical service to vulnerable populations across the country.
Facebook has also branched out from social media in an effort to provide free Internet services, pioneering the effort in India. So far, however, the campaign has run into roadblocks from the Indian government.
Filed Under: Infrastructure