Mozilla unveils winners of $250,000 innovation challenge

05 Apr 2017
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The final shortlist of the best five entries was chosen by an esteemed panel of judges from around the world, including Omobola Johnson, former Nigerian Minister of Communication Technology and Partner of TLcom Capital LLP.

Omobolaji Johnson, former Nigerian Minister of Communication Technology, and Partner, TLcom Capital LLP

Mozilla, the non-profit organization and maker of Firefox web browser, announced on Tuesday the winners of its Equal Rating Innovation Challenge. Launched in October 2016, the $250,000 challenge was designed to raise a community of innovators to provide affordable internet access and promote digital literacy.

Five finalists were chosen and they received intensive mentorship from Mozilla experts to hone their concepts. The finalists have also received funding to develop their solutions.

"We believe the open Internet is a social, educational, and economic tool that can build communities and businesses, and empower individuals," Mozilla said. “We want to inject practical, action-oriented, new thinking into the current debate on how to connect the unconnected people of the world.”

Mozilla said it received 100 entries for the challenge from 27 countries. The final shortlist of the best five entries was chosen by an esteemed panel of judges from around the world, including Omobolaji Johnson, former Nigerian Minister of Communication Technology and Partner of TLcom Capital LLP.

“I was particularly delighted to see strong African representation in the semi-finalists,” said Johnson. Availability and affordability of internet access is one of the challenges the African continent is faced with.

The winner of the Equal Rating Innovation Challenge was Mumbai-based Project Gram Marg Solution for Rural Broadband. Gram Marg utilizes unused white space on the TV spectrum to backhaul data from village WiFi clusters to provide broadband access (frugal 5G). The project has received $125,000 in funding from the non-profit organization.

Afri-Fi: Free Public WiFi, an extension of South Africa's Project Isizwe – an initiative aimed at providing WiFi to low-income communities – came second in the competition. The Afri-Fi team received $75,000 in funding from Mozilla

The goal of Afri-Fi is to create a sustainable business model by linking together free WiFi networks throughout South Africa and engaging users meaningfully with advertisers so they can "earn" free WiFi.

“The team has proven how their solution for a free internet is supporting thriving communities in South Africa,” said Marlon Parker, Founder of Reconstructed Living Labs, on behalf of the jury. “Their approach towards community building, partnerships, developing local community entrepreneurs and inclusivity, with a goal of connecting some of the most marginalized communities, are all key factors in why they deserve this recognition and are leading the free Internet movement in Southern Africa.”

The “Most Novel” award, worth $30,000, went to Bruno Vianna and his team from the Free Networks P2P Cooperative in Brazil. Rather than focusing on technology, the Cooperative has created a financial and logistical model that can be tailored to different villages.

Annother finalists was Cape Town-based Zenzeleni "Do it for yourselves" Networks, a telecommunications initiative that allows the most disadvantaged rural areas of South Africa to self-provide affordable communications at a fraction of the cost offered by other operators.

Canadian Freemium Mobile Internet (FMI) was also a finalist. FMI is a new business model for telecommunication companies to provide free 2G to enable the benefits of the open web to all.

“Mozilla started this initiative because we believe in the power of collaborative solutions to tackle big issues,"  Chief Innovation Officer at Mozilla, Katharina Borchert, noted. "We wanted to take action and encourage change. At Mozilla, our commitment to Equal Rating through policy, innovation, research, and support of entrepreneurs in the space will continue beyond this Innovation Challenge, but it will take a global community to bring all of the internet to all people.”


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