(T-Mobile Photo)

With remote learning ramping up in school districts across the country, T-Mobile is launching a $10.7 billion initiative designed to help connect millions of underserved student households to the internet at no cost.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based wireless carrier’s “Project 10Million” offers free wireless hotspots, up to 100GB per year of free high-speed data, and access to at-cost tablets and laptops, or the equivalent value of approximately $500 annually per student household, the company said in a news release on Thursday. School districts must apply to be enrolled in the program.

The project is meant to narrow the gap in internet accessibility as 50 million students are forced to learn online during the COVID-19 pandemic and more than nine million students are unable to connect at home.

As part of its “Un-carrier 1.0 5G for Good” commitments, T-Mobile previously announced two other initiatives: “Connecting Heroes,” to allow any public and non-profit state and local fire, police and EMS departments to get free unlimited talk, text and smartphone data “with the highest network priority”; and “T-Mobile Connect,” which cut the cost of the carrier’s lowest-priced plan in half to $15.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.