Facebook and partners through the initiative internet.org, launched the internet.org app targeted at providing free internet services to the estimated two-thirds of the world that doesn’t have access to the internet. The app, also currently available to Airtel subscribers in Zambia and Tigo subscribers in Tanzania, provides people with free access to basic internet services so they can browse useful health, education, finance, employment, communication and local information services without data charges. Through the app in Kenya, Airtel customers will have free access to:
AccuWeather, BBC News, BBC Swahili, BabyCenter & MAMA, BrighterMonday, Daily Nation, Facebook, Facts for Life, Girl Effect, Jamii Forums, Messenger, OLX, Scholars4Dev, SuperSport, Totohealth, UNICEF Ebola Information, Wattpad and Wikipedia. Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg has a somewhat utilitarian view about internet access, he argues that all people deserve to have access regardless of where on the plan they live. It’s more than clear, concerted efforts under the stewardship of Facebook are taking off faster than expected. In a wonderful piece, this writer argues how Zuck is building an empire and why we should watch him closely. To many Africans, Facebook is summarily the internet and the conduit to information on the World Wide Web. H/T: Facebook Press Release
