14 DAY TRIAL // On the occasion of his visit to Africa, Bill Gates has furthered his involvement in the issues of the African continent. The latest task that the co-founder of Microsoft has set on is to provide affordable Internet connections to South Africa. For this he has announced that Microsoft has formed a partnership with the South African cellular operator MTN.
"Mobile connectivity has become a key driver of telecommunications growth across the continent and has paved the way for increased mobile access through convergence and mobile data and wireless applications," Gates said. "For urban populations in Africa, the connectivity is very prohibitive, while in rural areas it is even more so because of the use of satellite equipment where it exists or it simply is not there. Developing wireless solutions is critical in easing this problem."
The agreement of the two companies will materialize in a series of options presented to local consumers enabling them to acquire a PC running Windows starter edition software and an internet connection based on a flexible payment program. South African users will be able to either pay a monthly fee for a personal computer and Internet access as part of a fixed-term contract, or to sign a month-to-month Internet contract that will allow for similar terms.
"By providing more affordable access to technology and helping partners build strong local software economies, Microsoft can help create knowledge-based economies in Africa that can generate new jobs and offer new opportunities for growth," Bill Gates concluded.