acebook says it will allow more websites and other online services to join its "free mobile data" Internet.org scheme.
The announcement follows a backlash against the initiative.
Opponents suggest it compromises the principles of net neutrality, because it favours access to some sites and apps over others.
But Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg said it was "not sustainable to offer the whole internet for free".
"It costs tens of billions of dollars every year to run the internet, and no operator could afford this if everything were free," he said in an online video posted to Internet.org's website.
"But it is sustainable to build free basic services that are simpler, use less data and work on all low-end phones."
One leading Delhi-based campaigner suggested that protests against the offer would continue.
Opening up membership
Internet.org allows subscribers of partner mobile networks to use a limited number of online services without further charge.
Networks operators participate because they believe users will pay for wider internet access once they have had a chance to try out the free content on offer.
Since 2014, the project has launched in Zambia, India, Colombia, Guatemala, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, the Philippines and Indonesia.
No comments:
Post a Comment