Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Photo : Reuters/Jose Miguel Gomez)
Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, 30, recently took to Facebook to explain why he created Internet.org and whether or not it means free internet for everyone.
In a post in his Facebook page, Zuckerberg pointed out that there are big social and economic obstacles to connectivity in many countries and not everyone can afford the internet while awareness of the value of internet remains low in many places.
Furthermore, Zuckerberg noted that it is the women and the poor who are "most likely to be excluded and further disempowered by lack of connectivity."
"This is why we created Internet.org, our effort to connect the whole world," Zuckerberg wrote. "By partnering with mobile operators and governments in different countries, Internet.org offers free access in local languages to basic internet services in areas like jobs, health, education and messaging."
According to Zuckerberg, Internet.org helps "include everyone in the world's opportunities" by raising the awareness of the value of internet while lowering the cost of accessing the internet.
Also, the Facebook CEO announced that they have already rolled out free basic services on the Reliance network in India to millions of people in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and they recently launched on the Indosat network in Indonesia.
On the other hand, several Indian companies withdrew from Internet.org over concerns that telecom companies would get to select which apps and services users can access. Among these companies are the Times of India owner, media giant Times Group, and travel service Cleartrip.com, USA Todayreported.
According to Cleartrip, there is a need to rethink the approach to Internet.org and "the idea of large corporations getting involved with picking and choosing who gets access to what and how fast."
