This February, Facebook initiated a venture with the Telecom Infrastructure Project, which aimed at putting $170 million into startups and providing solutions for building infrastructure. It planned on incorporating switching technologies, engineering, cabling and other components essential for building networks for internet and other communication services in Uganda. Today it has taken a further leap in its initiative. Facebook and TIP have tied up with French telco Orange in order to come forth with a new “Telecom Track” in the Orange Fab accelerator based in Paris for the sake of digging into more and more startups.
Nothing much has been disclosed regarding what sort of startups are being targeted, except that they need to be based in France for the accelerator. The selected startups will be mentored by Facebook, Orange and TIP members, which include Vodafone, Millicom, Airtel, BCS, Intel, Nokia and others. Orange notes:
The partnership will look to pursue the best innovations and talent within the sector.
It is for the very first time Orange is working with a corporate partner for Fab. Jay Parikh, Facebook’s head of engineering and infrastructure said;
Facebook is looking forward to working with Orange and TIP to support this start-up accelerator. Working together, we hope to help identify and support telecoms network infrastructure innovation while helping pave the way for future breakthroughs.
Startups interested may apply until May 14, and those selected (the numbers have not been revealed yet) will receive €15,000 ($16,300) as part of the program. They will be a part of the program for three weeks where they would have the opportunity of presenting their ideas in front of executives and VCs from Orange, TIPand Facebook along with other partners from TIP Ecosystem Accelerator Center network.
At the years end, the selected startups will be asked to present themselves at an event in San Francisco.
Facebook has its own personal interest lagging behind this venture. Building a good infrastructure in areas which lack internet and connectivity will provide it an area for growth. And as these areas lack good investors, Facebook will always be a good option for them to seek investments.
Building infrastructures will also provide it a good hold in the area, and it will have an early setup ensuring control for a longer duration. And of course, a better connected world will mean shrinkage in the digital divide which is good for everyone.
Orange itself has an extensive emerging market business, and has been operating its Fab accelerators around the globe since 2013. The purpose of doing so is to look for better talents and technologies which could bring further advancements in the world of tech.
Other leading companies, such as Verizon, are inspired by this venture and are aiming to follow them by investing into startups and other initiatives. In here, Orange Digital Ventures is also playing an important role and will help these startups in raising funds in the long run.
Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, EVP of Innovation, Marketing and Technologies for Orange said:
As part of our network evolution towards 5G and future technologies, there is a huge opportunity to innovate at the network level, and a need to support the bright minds and talents that will keep pushing telecoms innovation forward. We believe that with our partnership with Facebook and the opening of the new Telecom Track, we are able to encourage and support this community of startups, which has the ability to really disrupt this space and develop new innovation within telecoms.
