Telefonica has launched an initiative aimed at connecting more than 100m people in Latin America to the internet and is working with Facebook in order to make this a reality.

The initiative has been dubbed ‘Internet para todos’, meaning ‘Internet for all’, and will see the telecoms company work with Facebook on projects using new technologies and operating models to make broadband deployment more cost-effective. The pair have previously worked together to bring mobile internet to ‘tens of thousands’ of Peruvians across the highlands and in the Amazonian rainforest.

Through the initiative, Telefonica is hoping to work with partners and stakeholders to help it toward its dream of bringing internet to people across Latin America.

“Developing new technology is just one part of the equation. We also need to explore new business models and cooperate with other service providers and regulators to make the investment required sustainable,” said Gonzalo Martín-Villa, chief innovation officer at Telefonica. “These innovations are the foundation of the next generation networks and services that will benefit the whole industry and, above all, society”.