Essential Digital Infrastructure and Services Network (EDISON) Alliance

Context: The World Economic Forum announced the launch of an Essential Digital Infrastructure and Services Network (EDISON) Alliance that will work towards ensuring global and equitable access to the digital economy.

• The alliance will be steered by a multi-sector board, to be chaired by Verizon’s Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg.
• The members of the board would include Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire, Mastercard’s Executive Chair Ajay Banga, Apollo Hospitals Group’s Executive Vice Chairperson Shobana Kamineni and Vista Equity Partners’ Chairman and CEO Robert F Smith.
• Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), which describes itself as an international organisation for public-private partnership, will serve as the secretariat and platform for the Alliance.
• Access to digital technologies has enabled many to work, learn and live during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• However, the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing gaps and inequalities -- almost half of the global population, some 3.6 billion people, remain offline and broadband services are too expensive for 50 per cent of the population in developed countries.
• These ‘connectivity deserts’ hamper access to health, education and economic inclusion.
• The new Alliance will work with governments and industries to accelerate digital inclusion and its goal is to ensure an unprecedented level of cross-sectoral collaboration between the technology industry and other critical sectors of the economy.

https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/world-economic-forum-launches-cross-sector-alliance-to-close-digital-divide/article33686683.ece?homepage=true