Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, June 9, 2016

MSFT Incentives Businesses to Bring Affordable Internet to Scale

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Microsoft announced it has awarded seed grants and resources to 12 small businesses, in 11 countries, to help scale their solutions to increase affordable internet access in communities in underserved markets.

In the Philippines, the grant received by Wi-Fi Interactive Network Philippines will enable them to further their mission of using TV White Space to reach areas where Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is not available all across the country’s more than seven thousand islands.

Peggy Johnson, EVP of business development at Microsoft, shared more about Microsoft’s approach to partner with local entrepreneurs in tackling last-mile connectivity challenges in the article below:
At Microsoft, we believe that technology can empower everyone to achieve more. And for much of the world, it already has. You’re probably reading this on a laptop, tablet or smartphone, each connecting you to the incredible benefits of the Internet.

But for 4 billion people – more than half the world’s population – the benefits of digital technology remain out of reach.

To these communities, technology represents opportunity. The Internet can connect an expectant mother with her doctor, even if they’re hundreds of miles away. With a basic mobile phone, a rural smallholder farmer can access financial services like microloans and online banking. And with a simple Wi-Fi connection, any child can take online courses from the world’s best schools.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In its 471st Joint Management Committee and Commission En Banc meeting, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved the applications of 304 of 1,659 private higher education institutions (HEIs) for increase of tuition and other school fees for Academic Year (AY) 2016-2017.

Of the 304 HEIs, 280 or 17% of private HEIs nationwide will increase tuition. Two hundred fifty-two (252) or 15% of private HEIs will increase other school fees this year.

Across the private HEIs with approved increases in either tuition or other school fees, the average increase in tuition is 5.10% or the equivalent of PhP43.39 per unit, while increase in other school fees is 5.41% or PhP115.58.

Considering the total population of private HEIs, the average increase in tuition or other school fees is less than 1%. These increases vary depending on the HEI and the region.

In regions with the highest number of HEIs, the average per unit increase in tuition is PhP68.44 or 5% for NCR, PhP23.39 or 3.2% for Region IV-A, and PhP33.41 or 6.14% for Region III. For other school fees, the increases are PhP57.52 or 5.14% for NCR, PhP138.36 or 3.22% for Region IV-A and PhP487.71 or 5.28% for Region III.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LeadSurf Executive Eddie Chou (left) and Globe Director for Citizenship Fernando Esguerra (right) drop the first batch of donated defective mobile phones in the Globe recycling bin. Together with them are LeadSurf Application Operations Asst. Manager Allen Lim and Globe SVP for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto.

LeadSurf Data Marketing, Inc. joins Globe Telecom’s call for responsible electronic waste disposal by donating defective mobile phones, computers, and other office equipment to Project 1 Phone (P1P), the biggest and most ambitious e-waste recycling program in the country.

LeadSurf, a client of Globe MyBusiness, provides technical and customer support services, marketing of software products and services across South East Asia region including hub offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Greater China and the Philippines.

“We are proud to partner with Globe Telecom for the Project 1 Phone campaign which connects to our primary goal of including environmental sustainability in our business practices. With Project 1 Phone, we can now express our commitment to create wonderful and relevant solutions to the environment by reducing our e-waste within the premises of the company,” said Leadsurf Executive Eddie Chou.