Business Facebook Launches Free Internet Browsing in Nigeria

[LequteMan]

Internet giants, Facebook in collaboration with Airtel, have launched Internet.org Free Basics, a free internet browsing app in Nigeria.

Free Basics is an initiative by Facebook and several other partner companies to deliver zero-rated internet services to the 4 billion-odd people still offline. Facebook reaches out to local telcos and get them to zero-rate certain sites and services that meet Facebook’s criteria.

"Free Basics offers Nigerians, including 90 million people who are currently offline, the opportunity to access news, health information and services like Jobberman that were built by Nigerians and other developers across West Africa — all without having to pay for data," Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg said.

Airtel is Facebook's telecoms partner in Nigeria. As a result, Nigeria will now join the long list of Free Basic-activated countries.

“We’re pleased to take this big step forward in our partnership with Facebook, bringing more people online in Africa’s most populous country and helping to further narrow the digital divide,” said Airtel Africa CEO, Christian de Faria about the partnership.

The app is available to download for free. Interested people can check Android app store or visit FreeBasics.com on your phone with a SIM card from Airtel. Users can also click here to get started.

 

[stato]

Africa sleep walking into disaster [USERGROUP=15]@News Hub Team[/USERGROUP]

 

[LequteMan]

Africa sleep walking into disaster [USERGROUP=15]@News Hub Team[/USERGROUP]

Why'd you say so? It's free information for everybody.

 

[stato]

Why'd you say so? It's free information for everybody.

There is nothing like a free lunch sir. So to grant any organisation a monopoly over such vital services is a disaster waiting to happen. That is why it was rejected in India and there is concern over the plan around the world.

 

[mrsam]

There is nothing like a free lunch sir. So to grant any organisation a monopoly over such vital services is a disaster waiting to happen. That is why it was rejected in India and there is concern over the plan around the world.

If it wasn't free, would you still term it a disaster?

 

[stato]

If it wasn't free, would you still term it a disaster?

It is best when there is market and other can compete. If it is free and everyone else dies in the market, then they can do what they want. BTW it will be free only to view selected sites, so if you are not one of those selected sites, then what happens. Bye bye NB

 

[LequteMan]

@curator So, you're saying the citizens of the over 40 countries (most of them from Africa) who've activated Free Basics won't gain much from it?

I'm wary and skeptical about Facebook's true intentions, though.

 

[stato]

@curator So, you're saying the citizens of the over 40 countries (most of them from Africa) who've activated Free Basics won't gain much from it?

I'm wary and skeptical about Facebook's true intentions, though.

I am sure they will. But they will not be allowed to run the same system in the western world for good reason. Here is the deal - you can have free internet but you can only view things we select or sites we select. So if they chose to block all competitor sites like Twitter, Linkedin etc anything they don't own. Then anything their partners don't own.

Here comes your Trojan horse, make sure you know what is inside before you let it into the gates and display it in the square.

 

[LequteMan]

Seems like a sorta trade the Western world will definitely term "imbalanced".

One man's drink is another man's poison.

 

[stato]

During elections politicians come round with free money, free rice, free bread. We all know what happens after they get in and by then you have lost all power. People gain from the free food but at what cost down the line?

@Samguine - there is nothing like a free lunch

 

[LequteMan]

During elections politicians come round with free money, free rice, free bread. We all know what happens after they get in and by then you have lost all power. People gain from the free food but at what cost down the line?

@Samguine - there is nothing like a free lunch

@Bolded. That was how the slave trade started.

 

[mrsam]

there is nothing like a free lunch

Even in Freetown ....

 

[stato]

Even in Freetown ....

Especially in Freetown