 This month, the Mission brought to an end one of its most successful and highly-visible projects of all time. The Macedonia Connects (MK Connects) project led Macedonia to become the first wireless country in the world of its size, and provided free broadband internet access to 550 schools, research institutes, universities and dormitories throughout the country. The U.S. Ambassador, Macedonia Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Minister of Information Society praised the project and its lasting legacy at the closeout ceremony on October 3, 2007. The ceremony received wide coverage in the print and electronic press.
MK Connects revolutionized life in Macedonia – in schools, at work, and at home – by expanding internet access to nearly every citizen, creating competition that has drastically reduced the price of internet access, and serving to increase internet penetration from 7 to 32 percent in just three years. The Government of Macedonia has committed to sustain these legacies by providing a computer to every student and by providing free internet to schools into the future. |