The agreement, with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, by 2025
aims to widen connectivity in countries such as Zambia and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo to 20 million people, out of Microsoft's previously
announced 100 million target.
"Our goal here is to use digital technology and
investment as a catalyst to create more economic opportunity for the
population," Smith told Reuters on Tuesday ahead of next week's U.N.
conference on the least developed countries.
The effort aims to build a new cloud-computing and AI market
longer-term, which would benefit Microsoft, Smith has said.
The software maker's so-called Airband initiative brings
together telecoms and electricity providers, non-profits and governments to
increase internet access.
Smith also said Microsoft would work to improve food
production in Africa through various partnerships, including applying
artificial intelligence to monitor crops. -Reuters
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