Facebook is moving forward with a new plan to bring the entire world online.
A year after unveiling Internet.org, Facebook on Tuesday announced a pilot program that aims to provide free wireless Internet access to students in the Rutherford County School District in Forest City, North Carolina, the same city that houses one of the company's massive data centers.
It's the first time Facebook has provided free Wi-Fi to students, and it could be the first of many such partnerships if the program is successful.
In 2011, the school district approved an initiative to provide a personal laptop to its 6,000 students, but half of them don’t have wireless Internet access at home, according to a Facebook blog post. The tech giant is partnering with both the district’s school and PANGAEA Internet, an Internet service provider. As of Tuesday, the trial was only in 75 to 100 homes, but Facebook expects that number to grow.
Tuesday's partnership isn't specifically tied to Internet.org, but rather a global initiative to bring Internet access to developing countries, but the general theme remains the same: Facebook wants people online.
Offering free Wi-Fi to students could also help Facebook remain popular with teens, which has been reported to be losing ground. Those who use Wi-Fi offered by Facebook are not redirected to the Facebook page, but if a teen knows that their wireless connection is a gift from Facebook, they may be more inclined to use the service.
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