DataWind, maker of the Aakash tablet joins Business Call to Action

19th April 2014
DataWind, maker of the Aakash tablet  joins Business Call to Action

New Delhi,  April  19, 2014: Leading developer of wireless web access and products, and the manufacturer of Aakash,  the world’s lowest cost android tablet PC -- DataWind has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA).
DataWind plans to bridge the digital divide by providing an affordable tablet thus enabling internet access for millions of consumers in India. The company aims to harness the potential of ICT Technologies for a positive developmental impact on quality of education through its range of UbiSlate/Akash Tablets.
To meet the educational challenges in India, DataWind has worked to address the key demands of a large population, whose poor communities often face disproportionally high illiteracy rates. The company is focused on expanding the roll-out of the Aakash tablet, which is designed to be affordable, deliver high quality content, and provide access at the lowest cost or for free, where possible.
By 2017, DataWind has a target to distribute five million tablets in India and expects that more than 80% will reach individuals who live at the base of the pyramid-- living on less than $8 dollars a day.
"We are greatly encouraged to have DataWind join the BCtA with their unique technological approach to help reach new communities and improve access to education and technology. The impact of affordable and connected devices cannot be underestimated,” said Sahba Sobhani, Acting Programme Manager, Business Call to Action.
“DataWind is pleased to be in the company of like-minded organizations and initiatives such as the Business Call to Action that are working towards a common goal of social development by providing tools and empowering individuals and communities globally." said Suneet Singh, CEO, DataWind.
Launched at the United Nations in 2008, the Business Call to Action (BCtA) aims to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that offer the potential for both commercial success and development impact.

The BCtA global leadership platform is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the UK Department for International Development, the US Agency for International Development, the United Nations Global Compact, and the Clinton Global Initiative. The BCtA is hosted by the United Nations Development Programme Headquarters in New York.

Worldwide, 85 companies have responded to the BCtA by making commitments to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions through commercially-viable business ventures that engage low-income people as consumers, producers, suppliers, and distributors of goods and services