Intel on Tuesday pledged to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to help bridge the digital divide and bring technology to developing nations. The program, dubbed Intel World Ahead, combines and extends the chipmaker's current initiatives within emerging markets.

The World Ahead Program will focus on three areas: accessibility, connectivity and education. Unlike efforts such as the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) foundation, which rival AMD is supporting, Intel says full-featured PCs are needed. Those computers would be tailored to a specific region.

The OLPC group is aiming to build a $100 laptop, while Intel is targeting a $300 price point for its low-cost PCs.

"While affordability of PCs is crucial, the World Ahead Program goes beyond simple cost to develop the right systems tailored to local needs, drive critical connectivity, cultivate sustainable local capabilities and provide the quality education needed to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Intel CEO Paul Otellini.

WiMAX wireless networks will also play a major role in Intel's initiative. The technology, which has seen slow adoption among manufacturers, enables Internet connectivity over areas much larger than that possible with Wi-Fi. WiMAX will be a necessity in rural areas and locales without established infrastructure.

Within five years, Intel hopes to extend broadband PC access to another one billion people, and train 10 million teachers in hopes to reach another one billion students.

The new program is an extension of ongoing efforts, Intel says, noting it is donating 100,000 PCs to classrooms in developing countries. In 2005, the company helped provide 8.5 million computers through government-assisted PC programs, and 35 WiMAX rollouts have gone live worldwide.

"Decades of providing technology in growing volume and at decreasing costs have driven great gains for developing nations, communities and people worldwide, but there is still much to do," said Otellini, who will detail the World Ahead Program Wednesday at the World Congress on Information Technology in Austin.