Based at the MIT Media Lab, the Next Billion Network is a collaborative initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is comprised of 6 concrete activities:

The new n-Lab Series (the lab for the Next Billion) is a two semester-long + IAP series of lab courses at MIT that aims to design and develop a unique toolkit of open-source mobile applications that can be tested and deployed in the field within developing countries, then customized and incubated by local mobile entrepreneurs.

Annual collegiate challenges launched from MIT to student teams across the world to scope out real-world design, development and deployment projects across the developing world. Winning teams are awarded money to travel and test prototypes in the field. Challenge themes are closely aligned with n-Labs, and challenge-registered design projects can be developed within as part of the n-Lab coursework, or outside it.

As part of our current course (MAS.962), we have 8 teams of MIT students developing technologies for NGOs in 7 countries across the developing world. This is an on-going effort we are in the process of institutionalizing. We are creating long term relationships with organizations that help low-income people in the developing world.

Forward looking companies in both the developed and developing world recognize the potential of the next billion as both as a new, emerging market and as corporate social responsibility. We are working with these companies to help them achieve both of these aims.

We are working with the EPROM initiative that has established local Mobile Programming Incubators in east Africa. We plan to leverage this experience and help scale it to enable local entrepreneurs in other continents to code, launch and monetize localized mobile applications.

As part of the Media Lab and the MIT entrepreneurship ecosystem, we will encourage and help incubate people and ideas worthy of projecting as a business for the next billion market. As part of one of the most entrepreneurial universities in the world, we uniquely qualified to identify and nurture high-tech ventures for the next billion.