West Africa’s solar-based ISP Tizeti has partnered with Microsoft to roll out high-speed Airband internet infrastructure in Oyo State, Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the companies, with 40% broadband penetration in December 2021, millions of Nigerians are still excluded from the global digital economy.

Through the Airband Initiative, Tizeti and Microsoft will leverage low-cost wireless technologies “to make it easier and cheaper for people, especially those in underserved communities, to access the internet and get connected to the digital economy.”

Both companies share the intention to connect more people to the internet in a cost-efficient way, starting with Oyo State.

Speaking on the partnership, Tizeti’s CEO Kendall Ananyi said that Microsoft Airband collaboration will complement Tizeti’s existing initiative in Oyo State. “We are happy to work with Microsoft on the Airband Initiative as it extends our mission of bringing affordable and reliable internet to more Nigerians outside the digital envelope.”

Tizeti recently launched its fixed wireless network in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, to provide significant opportunities for cities in Oyo State, that have not had sufficient broadband infrastructure and to improve the state’s competitiveness with “high-speed, and unlimited, yet affordable broadband internet from Tizeti.”

Microsoft Airband General Manager, Vickie Robinson, added, “Communities need reliable, affordable internet access in our increasingly digital world. That’s why Microsoft is working with providers like Tizeti to connect the unconnected, expand opportunity, and close the global digital divide.”

The companies said that for many countries in Africa, there is still a huge digital divide.

“This boundary between connected and unconnected translates into clear consequences for employment, education, family and social life, and access to information. Partnerships such as this play a significant role in addressing the digital infrastructure deficits in emerging economies, leveraging innovative technology and capabilities, to improve development outcomes for millions of people,” they added.

Microsoft’s Airband Initiative is focused on advancing digital equity—access to affordable internet, affordable devices, and digital skills—as a platform for empowerment and digital transformation.