Free Basics
Free Basics, originally known as Internet.org, is a global initiative led by Facebook to bring Internet connectivity to "diverse, local communities". [1] The project is combined effort between seven major telecommunication companies, including Ericsson, Mediatek, Opera, Samsung, facebook, Nokia, and Qualcomm.
The project was renamed Free Basics in September 2015. Free Basics was originally only the name of the app delivering the service.[2]
The non-profit has identified three major areas for exploration including:
- Affordability--Supporters will work together to ensure access to the Internet isn't a barrier.
- Efficiency--Supporters will build and strengthen the infrastructure needed to keep the Internet stable.
- Business Models--"Developers, mobile operators and device manufacturers will work together to introduce business models that give people more ways to go online."
One Year In
According to a company blog post, Free Basics marked its one-year anniversary in Zambia. The post highlighted the organization's progress in increasing the number of Internet users through their services. Citing that more than half of its users are paying for data and accessing the Internet within 30 days. Another cited positive angle of the organization's service includes data surrounded healthcare access--more than a million users accessed such information over the course of a month. [3]
Criticisms
Net Neutrality
Since its launch in 2013, several net neutrality activists have criticized the project for 'zero rating', which is the preferential treatment of certain websites or streaming services, over others. This results in an uneven playing field, and magnifies barriers to access on the Internet. Facebook's initiative does this by providing 'Free Basics', a collection of sites that relay weather, health and local data for users. [4]
In 2016 February, India banned Free Basics for "discriminatory tariffs for data services", aka zero rating".[5] This came after India's regulator called for Reliance Communications, Facebook's Indian telecom partner, to stop Free Basics in 2015 December. In response, the company reportedly spent millions on advertising and had an op-ed published by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the Times of India.[5]
References
- ↑ Announcing the Internet.org Platform. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015.
- ↑ "Facebook renames Internet.org as ‘Free Basics’, offers open platform for developers, IndianExpress.com. Published 2015 September 27. Retrieved 2016 April 20.
- ↑ One Year In. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015.
- ↑ Internet.org Criticism. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 India bans Facebook's 'Free Basics' service, EnGadget.com. Published 2016 February 8. Retrieved 2016 April 20.