Closing the rural broadband gap
Many rural areas lack broadband access, limiting their ability to thrive in a digital economy. The Airband Initiative brings affordable broadband access to everyone.
Our mission
We partner with equipment makers, internet and energy access providers, and local entrepreneurs to make affordable broadband access a reality for communities around the world.
Eliminating the US rural broadband gap
Microsoft has developed a strategic approach that brings together private and public-sector organizations to help address the needs of millions of people who live in rural America and lack access to broadband.
Play video to learn our strategy
Closing the global digital divide
99 percent of the unconnected are in markets outside the United States, and most of those people are in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Learn how we are working with partners in South Africa to bring connectivity to schools, clinics, and hospitals to create a brighter future for everyone.
Play video about our efforts
Our partners around the world
Ekovolt - Nigeria
Electric Vine - Indonesia
Brightwave - South Africa
WildFire5g - Georgia
ARED - Rwanda
iSizwe - South Africa
Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH), VistaBotswana - Botswana
AirJaldi - India
Axiom - Maine
Allband, Gigabit Library & Merit - Michigan
Virgin Island Bureau of Technology - Virgin Islands
MBC - Virginia
VABB - Virginia
Kukua - Uganda
Mawingu - Kenya
M-KOPA - Kenya
PicoSoft - Nepal
Sigora - Haiti
Solaris Offgrid - Tanzania
Standard Microgrid - Zambia
SunCulture - Kenya
Tambero - Argentina
UhuruOne - Tanzania
VisionNet, WrightGrid - DRC
WIN - Philippines
Zaya Labs - India
Agsol - Kenya
BuffaloGrid - India
Cold Hubs - Nigeria
ME Solshare - Bangladesh
Mesh Power - Rwanda
Tribal Digital Village - California
VeriOwn Solar Home System - India
Agile Networks - Ohio
CV Wireless - New York
Dancing Crow Farm - Washington
VDeclaration Networks - Maryland
Declaration Networks - Virginia
Essex Farm - New York
Native Network - Washington
Native Network - Montana
Network Business Systems Inc - Illinois
Network Business Systems Inc - Iowa
Network Business Systems Inc - South Dakota
Packerland Broadband - Michigan
RTO Wireless - Maine
RTO Wireless - New York
Skylark Wireless - West Virginia
Packerland Broadband - Wisconsin
New Sun Road - Uganda
Maine
Axiom, a local internet service provider (ISP), connects rural towns and communities in Washington County, Maine, to affordable broadband access—increasing economic development and commerce.
South Africa
Brightwave Networks delivers broadband to over 600 rural sites including primary and secondary schools, healthcare clinics, and government offices—connecting more than 210,000 people in rural communities.
Colombia
In Colombia, Lavazza, Makaia, and ALO are partnering to provide TV White Space technology and solar-powered energy to coffee growers and schools, to help improve agriculture and education outcomes.
Michigan
Internet service provider (ISP), Allband, delivers broadband internet access to residential customers and businesses which enables school bus connectivity and animal tracking on private reserves and state parks in rural Michigan.
Georgia
In Northwest Georgia, WildFire5G is deploying a fixed wireless network to cover over 80,000 people and provide affordable broadband connectivity to residential and business customers.
India
Veriown brings Internet-connect solar energy to areas without access to a power grid. Using technology that provides electricity and internet through a single device, Veriown provides communities with access to online education and commerce.
Kenya
Using low-cost technologies, Mawingu Networks connects people to the internet for as little as one dollar per month. Lower infrastructure costs make it more affordable for people to access the internet and participate in the digital economy.
Partnerships
Elimination of the broadband gap requires deployment of low-cost technology at scale. We support businesses working to increase internet and energy access and make it more affordable. Partnerships include co-investment, and access to resources like technology, digital skills, and reseller programs.
Learn more about partnerships
Grants
In addition to partnerships, we provide grants to innovative entrepreneurs who are developing technologies or business models that increase internet connectivity and energy access. Grants provide financial support, products and services, access to technical experts, and mentorship.
Learn more about grants
Solving the homework gap
Mid-Atlantic Broadband utilizes TV White Space technology to extend their fiber-optic network and provide connectivity to unconnected families and students.
Play video on the homework gap
In the news
Learn more about the Microsoft Airband Initiative and explore the latest news and updates.
Stepping up our efforts to close the rural broadband gap
With the early progress of the Airband Initiative, we are raising our goal. We will now work to extend broadband access to 3 million Americans in rural areas by July 2022.
Native Network and Microsoft bringing internet to tribal areas
The two companies will team up to provide reliable internet access to more than 70,000 people, as well as Tribal communities in Montana and Washington.
Learn about this partnership
Teaming up to lower the cost of TV White Space solutions
Redline Communications is partnering with Microsoft to help make broadband more affordable and accessible for unserved areas in the rural United States and globally.
Learn about this joint effort
Internet access coming to rural Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota
Network Business Systems and Microsoft have agreed to deliver affordable, reliable broadband access to rural communities throughout the three states.
Learn more about the plan
