Bill Gates Foundation brings free Internet to rural Vietnam

November 26, 2013 | 09:09

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Under the second phase of a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ charitable organization, 665 free public internet access points have been set up in 16 provinces across Vietnam.

Yesterday in Da Lat, the Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communication and the Foundation jointly conducted the handover of 4,600 computers and a number of other equipment to representatives of the 16 provinces, under the project “Improvement of Computer Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Vietnam.”

These donations will be given to 665 free public internet access points set up in Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Gia lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Ca Mau, Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces.

Each public library and post office in the above provinces will have at least one free Internet station. There will be 40 computers available at provincial level, 10 computers at district level, and five computers at commune level.

These public access points will also be equipped with other devices for public use such as printers, projectors, and headphones.

The above project is being carried out by the Ministry of Information and Communications from 2011 to 2016.

Based in Seattle, Washington, BMGF, the largest private foundation in the world, is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

As stated on its website, the BMGF works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.

In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people, especially those with the fewest resources, have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

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