Facebook is setting its sights on its next five billion users—even if they don't yet have Internet access. On Tuesday evening, Mark Zuckerberg announced a partnership between Facebook and some of the world's largest technology companies to bring the Internet to the parts of the world that don't have it.
Called Internet.org, the social network has joined forces with Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, Ericsson and others to bring web access to the five billion people, primarily in developing countries, that don't own smartphones or have access to affordable connectivity.
"There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy," Zuckerberg said in a statement. "Internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it."
According to the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals report, 2.7 billion people or 39 percent of the world's population will be on the Internet before the end of 2013.
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