From the World Conference on Information Technology (WCIT), Austin, TX, USA
May, 2006
By Dan Shine, 50x15 Program Director
When we take a moment to review the goals of WCIT 2006, specifically the advancement of digital inclusion, we have the chance to reflect on the immense task and opportunity we collectively share.
With only about 15 percent of the world's population currently connected to the Internet, the private-public partnerships that must be forged to bridge the 'digital divide' have to include a broad range of solutions from a wide range of innovative industry and government leaders.
A global call to action for digital inclusion will have massive and lasting effects for each of us. As individuals and representatives of our respective organizations, we must actively work to advance this noble cause.
AMD's 50x15 initiative is our commitment to enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. We can only achieve this lofty goal by partnering with like-minded companies, governments and institutions to set up sustainable business models around the world.
In our global efforts to bring the power and knowledge of the Internet to an increasingly diverse audience, AMD has collaborated with technology leaders, NGOs and regional and local governments to launch a number of 50x15 "Learning Labs." These sites bring computing solutions and the Internet into areas where access was previously unavailable. While no two deployments are the same, we have quickly recognized the common requirements for regionalized distribution systems, support infrastructure, applications and content to properly serve the next billion consumers.
Dan Shine
50x15 Program Director