With New Organization, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Wants Everyone on the Planet to Be Online He has co-founded a new partnership that aims to provide internet access to the billions of people who are without it.

By Jason Fell

If you don't have access to the internet then you're probably not reading this article. And you're most likely not spending hours surfing Facebook, either. That's a problem Mark Zuckerberg wants to solve.

The billionaire tech entrepreneur and Facebook founder has formed a partnership called internet.org. The goal, it says, is to make internet access available to basically everyone. It's kind of like Google's plan to provide internet access to far reaches of the planet via a network of floating balloons, but also probably very different.

"Today, only 2.7 billion people -- just over one-third of the world's population -- have access to the internet," Facebook said in the announcement. "Internet adoption is growing by less than 9 percent each year, which is slow considering how early we are in its development."

Related: Could Facebook's New Mobile Purchase Platform Be a PayPal Competitor?

Along with Facebook, founding internet.org member companies include Ericsson, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung and others. The idea is to develop joint projects, share knowledge and mobilize industry and governments to bring the world online, the announcement says. That means helping to make internet access more affordable, to reduce the amount of data needed to run apps online and to create new business models for providing internet on grander scale.

Facebook's user growth is expected to grow substantially in emerging markets, according to a report from New York City-based digital marketing research firm eMarketer. This year, Facebook's user base is expected to jump 34.4 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, 29.5 percent in Latin America, 31.8 percent in the Middle East and Africa and 29.3 percent in central and eastern Europe. Growth in North America is slowing, meanwhile, and is only expected to increase by 3.6 percent.

This isn't the first partnership Zuckerberg has struck up with goals that go beyond the walls of Facebook. In April, Zuckerberg co-started FWD.us, a political advocacy group that aims to foster technology innovation and entrepreneurialism.

Related: Mark Zuckerberg and Other Tech Giants Form Political Advocacy Group

Jason Fell

Entrepreneur Staff

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the Entrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs with the Lowest Risk of Being Replaced By AI: 'Safest Jobs Right Now'

A new report from career resources platform Resume Genius finds the top 10 AI-proof careers expected to see the most growth within the next decade.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

How AI Can Free Up Your Time For Less Busywork and More Innovation

If there's one trait every founder needs, it's a willingness to experiment. Today, experimentation is easier and more accessible than ever thanks to AI.

Science & Technology

How I Went From Side Hustle to 7 Figures Using These 4 AI Tools (No Tech Skills Needed)

Scale faster, work less and grow a 7-figure business — no team needed.

Health & Wellness

How Mastering Your Nervous System Boosts Leadership Presence and Performance

Discover a modern leadership system designed to boost your effectiveness, reduce stress and bring more clarity and joy to how you lead.

Making a Change

Learn Up to 56 Languages for Just $35

Get lifetime access to the platform that turns language learning into a game.