Facebook announced that it will allow more websites and other online services to join its "free mobile data" program, Internet.org.
As reported in a relevant BBC report, the announcement follows a series of reactions against the initiative, which, it is claimed, jeopardizes the principles of net neutrality as it favors access to some sites and applications, which are treated "privileged" in relation to others.
However, as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg emphasized in a video posted on the Internet.org page, it is not sustainable to offer the entire Internet for free.
"Operating the Internet costs tens of billions of dollars a year, and no operator could afford that financially if everything were free," he noted, adding that it is viable to set up free basic services that are simpler, use less data, and work on low-end phones.
Internet.org allows subscribers of participating networks to use a limited number of online services at no additional charge. The main motivation of network operators is that they believe that users will pay for broader Internet access after they have a chance to try out the free content offered.
Since 2014, the project has been launched in Zambia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, the Philippines and Indonesia. To access it, users must use either special Android applications, the Internet.org website, the Facebook Android application or the Opera Mino browser.
Until now, the project has focused on a small number of services in each country, including Wikipedia, BBC News, etc. However, it will now be expanded to allow other developers to enter what is called the Internet.org Platform.
The criteria that must be met are the following: they should not be "data-heavy" services (video, high-resolution photos, online voice and video chat services), they should be able to run on cheaper, feature phones, as well as smartphones, and they should encourage further exploration of the Internet, as well as paid access.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
