NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, January 28, 2016

According to the UN, 57% of the world’s population remains offline. In an effort to boost Wi-Fi access in the city of Kampala, Uganda, Google began laying down thousands of kilometers of fiber cables in 2013 as a pilot project. Having recently gone live, Google expects to create 120 Wi-Fi hotspots across the country’s capital. With widening Internet access, those living in Kampala can have better access to information and associated communication tools.

But the Internet can also facilitate access to good health. If mobile Internet access is available, health care providers and Kampalans in general can download apps to find healthcare more easily. PACE, PSI’s network member in Uganda, and other organizations are currently working on apps for healthcare access in Uganda.