Facebook to Provide Free Internet Access in Zambia

Facebook has introduced a new app to provide internet services to mobile users in Zambia.

The service will be provided through a new app called "interent.org".

Facebook product management director Guy Rosen said in his blog post that 85 percent of the world's population has cellular coverage but only 30 percent is actually connected to the internet. The major reason why people don't use internet is because of the charges applicable on the usage of the internet.

The goal of the app is to provide free basic internet services to people who cannot afford it.

"The most expensive part about owning a smart phone and being connected to the internet isn't the smart phone; it's the data,"  Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg had said at the Mobile World Congress back in February. 

This app just doesn't provide free data connection but also access to health, employment information and also Google search and Wikipedia; but the free version of the app does not allow video playback.

This news app is coming in partnership with Airtel, an Indian-based telecommunication company.

Rosen clarified that Facebook will not pay Airtel for the bandwidth but in the long run  Airtel will benefit as users might later decide to  go in for paid broader, unrestricted services, reports Reuters.

According to Facebook , it is investing $60 million in drone technology as the company wants to connect to the "the next 5 billion" - the future market for internet, which is mainly in Asia and Africa.

Facebook has partnered with more than 150 wireless providers over the past four years to offer free or discounted access to its social network, but the new app introduced in Zambia has added web service along with social networking. This service will soon expand to other parts of the world and will be available via other wireless operators.