Case: [Techvelopment] How can internet access improve people’s lives in rural areas?

af TANIA ELLIS – The Social Business Company

Se virksomhedsprofil  

What would people in rural areas be able to do, if they had access to internet? Would it change their lives? And could it change their lives for the better?

This is what the pioneering IT-company BLUETOWN has set itself to do, by making connectivity accessible and affordable for people living in the rural areas of the world.

Connecting the unconnected....

More than half of the world’s population lives in areas without Internet connectivity. In Africa alone, 82% of households are not connected to the Internet. And in rural areas online connectivity is even more scarce.

This doesn’t mean that they’re missing out on Facebook updates and Netflix series. It’s much more crucial than that: for example, 80% of the health issues among patients in rural clinics could be addressed with the use of information and communications technologies (ICT).

In other words, lives can be saved and improved through the use of technology.

Technology + Development = Techvelopment

BLUETOWN has set itself out on a mission to connect the unconnected.

How? By providing them with sustainable, affordable internet connectivity as well as free access to a local content server, the BLUETOWN LOCAL CLOUD, that provides free, fast and easy access to e-health, e-learning, e-farming and more.

Technology alone cannot drive techvelopment efforts though. Connecting the unconnected also requires close cross-sector partnerships and local community engagement.

“Our approach is to build on multi-stakeholder collaboration involving a wide range of actors - governments, private companies, international and local NGOs”, explains BLUETOWN’s Partnership Manager, Marie Højgaard Berg.

Get more “how-to” insights from BLUETOWN 10th May in Copenhagen

Want to learn more about techvelopment in practice?

You can meet BLUETOWN’s Partnership Manager, Marie Højgaard Berg at The Social Business Club miniconference “Sustainability & Tech” on May 10th in Copenhagen.

Here Marie will share how BLUETOWN provides fast and easy access to affordable and innovative e-solutions that help improve people’s lives in rural areas around the world.

Marie will also share her experience with cross-sector partnerships and local community engagement.

The event will also give you practical insights & concrete inspiration from:

• The social business expert who provides an overview of key concepts, global trends & cases on sustainability & tech (Tania Ellis, Special Advisor & Founder, The Social Business Company)
• The forward-looking NGO that applies blockchain technologies in new business alliances to improve supply chain transparency in the protection of Nature (Tobias Trier Fuglsang, Advisor Innovation and Market Transformation, WWF) 
• The international alliance that works to bridge sustainable development needs with digital finance (Marianne Haahr, Director, Sustainable Digital Finance Alliance)

Throughout the programme we will discuss, network and exchange experience and thoughts on how you can accelerate your own sustainability efforts through the use of technology.

See programme & sign-up to the miniconference Sustainability &Tech

About BLUETOWN

The Social Business Club is an inspirational network forum for professionals with an interest in innovative and sustainable business practices that create value for society and the bottom line. Free sign-up at www.thesocialbusinessclub.com