Facebook and six other tech companies have launched a joint project called Internet.org which aims to connect the two-thirds of the global population that is not currently linked to the Internet….

Facebook and six other tech companies have launched a joint project called Internet.org which aims to connect the two-thirds of the global population that is not currently linked to the Internet.

The other founding members of the project are Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung, who will develop joint projects, share knowledge, and work with industry and governments to boost Internet connectivity using mobile technology, Facebook said Tuesday.

Only 2.7 billion people — just over one-third of the world’s population — have access to the Internet, and Internet adoption is growing by less than 9 percent each year, according to Facebook.

The move by Facebook and partners is one of a number by tech vendors, including Google and Microsoft, to increase penetration of the Internet, and consequently of their products and services in developing countries.

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