Tech giant Microsoft has picked Philippine start-up WIN, short for Wi-Fi Interactive Network, as one of 12 companies that will be receiving seed funding worth $150,000 under its Affordable Access Initiative.
Microsoft evaluated business models from all over the world to identify companies that offered promising local solutions to bridging the digital divide.
WIN said it will use the $150,000 funding to install base stations that will broadcast Wi-Fi signal to areas where there is currently no Internet coverage.
According to Philip Zulueta, president and founder of WIN, “It is truly an honor to be chosen by Microsoft as one of 12 partners globally, to launch the Affordable Access initiative. By using TV White Space to anchor the connectivity of our sponsored Wi-Fi hotspots, we have strengthened our capabilities to provide connectivity to small and medium enterprises, specifically, sari-sari stores.”
TV White Space (TVWS) makes use of vacant TV channels that carry frequencies that can now be converted to Wi-Fi signal. TVWS can travel up to 10 kms with speeds of up to 10Mbps.
