The World Wide Web Foundation is today delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with NAVER corporation, a major Korean Internet company.  NAVER’s support will cover part of the production costs of the Web Index, the world’s first measure of the World Wide Web’s contribution to social, economic and political progress in countries across the world. The 2014-15 edition of the Web Index will be launched on 11 December 2014.

NAVER’s generous support will help to ensure the Web Index continues to grow as a robust and independent reference point for decision-makers across the public and private sectors, as well as academia, NGOs, the technology industry and ordinary members of the public.

Speaking ahead of the release of the 2014-15 Web Index, Anne Jellema, the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Web Foundation said: ‘We are excited to be developing this partnership with one of the leading Asian internet pioneers, NAVER. Their generous support will help the Web Index continue to grow in strength, depth and influence.’

Sang Hun Kim, the CEO of NAVER, said: “NAVER formed this partnership pursuing the same vision as the Web Foundation – seeking to establish the open web for everyone, everywhere to access information and knowledge without any exception.”

First released in 2012 to critical acclaim, the Web Index takes the format of a country ranking. The 2014 edition will include five new countries –  Haiti, Mozambique, Myanmar, Ukraine and Sierra Leone – taking the number of countries surveyed from 81 to 86. Key issues under the microscope this year will include privacy, censorship, gender-based violence online and, for the first time ever, Net Neutrality.

You will be able to find out how your country stacks up in this year’s Web Index at thewebindex.org on 11 December 2014. Stay tuned!

We’re also grateful to the other funders of this year’s Web Index: UK Aid from the UK government, and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.