Internet.org explained

Internet.org
Mission Statement:"Connecting the world"
Type:Affordable access to Internet services
Founder:Facebook
Current Status:Active

Internet.org is a partnership between social networking services company Meta Platforms and six companies (Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera Software, Nokia and Qualcomm) that plans to bring affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing efficiency, and facilitating the development of new business models around the provision of Internet access.[1] [2] The app delivering these services was renamed Free Basics in September 2015.[3] As of April 2018, 100 million people were using internet.org.[4]

It has been criticized for violating net neutrality, and by handpicking internet services that are included, for discriminating against companies not in the list, including competitors of Meta Platforms' subsidiary Facebook.[5] [6] In February 2016, regulators banned the Free Basics service in India based on "Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations".[7] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) accused Facebook of failing to pass on the four questions in the regulator's consultation paper and also blocking access to TRAI's designated email for feedback on Free Basics. On February 11, 2016, Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India. In July 2017, Global Voices published the widespread[8] [9] report[10] [11] "Free Basics in Real Life" analyzing its practices in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and concluding it violates net neutrality, focuses on "Western corporate content", and overall "it's not even very helpful".

History

Internet.org was launched on August 20, 2013.[2] [12] [13] At the time of launch, Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a ten-page whitepaper he had written elaborating on the vision that asserts that connectivity is a "human right".[14] In the paper, he wrote that Internet.org was a further step in the direction of Facebook's past initiatives, such as Facebook Zero, to improve Internet access for people around the world.

During TechCrunch Disrupt on September 11, 2013 Zuckerberg elaborated further on his vision.[15] TechCrunch blog compared Internet.org with Google's Project Loon. Zuckerberg also released a video on September 30, 2013 explaining Internet.org's goal of making the Internet 100 times more affordable.[16]

On February 24, 2014, shortly before a keynote presentation by Zuckerberg at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 24, 2014, Internet.org unveiled several new projects: an education partnership called SocialEDU with Nokia and local carrier AirTel, edX, and the government in Rwanda; a project with Unilever in India; and a new Internet.org Innovation Lab with Ericsson in its Menlo Park HQ.[17] In the presentation, Zuckerberg says that Facebook's recent acquisition of mobile messaging app WhatsApp for $19 billion was closely related to the Internet.org vision.[18] [19] [20]

In May 2015, Facebook announced the Internet.org Platform, an open program for developers to easily create services that integrate with Internet.org. This was seen by commentators as a response to concerns raised over net neutrality.[21] Participating websites must meet three criteria:[22]

  1. Explore the entire internet (so as to give users a taste of the wider Internet and therefore help them see the value of the Internet),
  2. Efficiency of data use (so that it would be economical for carriers to allow free access to the websites), and
  3. Technical specifications: optimized for browsing on a wide range of devices including smartphones and less sophisticated mobile devices, and should not be dependent on JavaScript or HTTPS.

Satellite development

On March 27, 2014, Facebook announced a connectivity lab as part of the Internet.org initiative, with the goal of bringing the Internet to everybody via drones, acquired from the company Ascenta.[23] [24] [25] [26] It is also communicated by the Connectivity Lab, that, besides using drones, low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites would also be part of the project, for establishing internet connectivity in other areas. All three systems would rely on free space optics (FSO). In free space optics, the signal is sent in a compact bundle of infrared light[27]

At Mobile World Congress March 2015, Mark Zuckerberg says that the Internet.org initiative was "willing to work" with Project Loon (Google's project to use high-altitude balloons to provide people cheaper Internet access) but emphasizes that in his view, the real work is in partnering with existing telecommunications companies to improve access and reduce costs for people already within range of a network, which he estimates at over 80% of the population.[28] [29]

In October 2015, Facebook and Eutelsat leased the entire Ka-band capacity (36 spot beams with a total throughput of 18 Gbit/s) on the planned AMOS-6 satellite to provide access to parts of Africa[30] [31] AMOS-6 was intended to be launched on flight 29 of a SpaceX Falcon 9 to geosynchronous transfer orbit on 3 September 2016. However, on 1 September 2016, during the run-up to a static fire test, there was an anomaly on the launch pad resulting in a fire and the loss of the vehicle and its payload, AMOS-6. There were no injuries.[32]

In January 2016, Google had exited Facebook's Free Basics platform in Zambia. They were included in the initial trial of this project, which was first launched in Zambia.[33]

Net neutrality criticism in India

The first Internet.org summit was held on 9 October 2014 in New Delhi, India. The primary objective of this summit was to bring together experts, officials and industry leaders to focus on ways to deliver more Internet services for people in languages other than English. Zuckerberg also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about how Facebook and the Indian government can collaborate on Internet.org.[34] [35] [36] [37]

In 2015 After a lot of criticism of Internet.org which has a partnership with Reliance in India, Mark Zuckerberg replied in an article for Hindustan Times stating that Internet.org and net neutrality can co-exist and Internet.org will never differentiate between services.[38] His claims were contested by many response articles, including one published in the Hindustan Times.[39] [40] In May 2015, the Internet.org Platform, open to participation by any developers meeting specified guidelines, was announced. Some commentators viewed this announcement as a response to the net neutrality concerns expressed.The PMO has expressed displeasure at Facebook's reaction to and handling of TRAI's consultation paper, calling it a crudely majoritarian and orchestrated opinion poll.[41]

An Indian journalist, in his reply to Mark Zuckerberg's article defending Internet.org in India, criticized Internet.org as "being just a Facebook proxy targeting India's poor" as it provides restricted Internet access to Reliance Telecom's subscribers in India. Until April 2015, Internet.org users could access (for free) only a few websites, and Facebook's role as gatekeeper in determining what websites were in that list was criticised for violating net neutrality. In May 2015, Facebook announced that the Free Basics Platform would be opened to websites that met its criteria.[42]

In April 2015, some Indian startups started pulling out of Internet.org to protect net neutrality.[43] [44] [45] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in January 2016 criticized Facebook for its misleading commercials and astroturfing the Free Basics campaign. TRAI accused Facebook of failing to pass on the four questions in the regulator's consultation paper and also blocking access to TRAI's designated email for feedback on Free Basics.[46] [47] On February 8, 2016, TRAI banned the Free Basics service in India based on "Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016" notification.[48] On February 11, 2016 Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India.[49]

In May 2017, Facebook, in partnership with Indian telecoms operator Bharti Airtel, launched a service under the Express Wi-Fi banner.[50]

Participants

Below is a selective history of launch dates and participating mobile networks:

Reception

Expanding Internet access

An article published on Datamation in August 2013 discussed Internet.org in relation to past accessibility initiatives by Facebook and Google such as Facebook Zero, Google Free Zone, and Project Loon.[82] Internet.org and Project Loon have been described as being engaged in an Internet space race.[83] [84] [85] There have also been technical debates about the relative feasibility and value of using balloons (as championed by Project Loon) instead of drones, with Mark Zuckerberg favoring drones.[86]

In December 2013, David Talbot wrote a detailed article for Technology Review titled Facebook's Two Faces: Facebook and Google Aim to Fix Global Connectivity, but for Whom? about Internet.org and other Internet accessibility initiatives.[87]

User experience research

In 2015, researchers evaluating how Facebook Zero shapes information and communication technologies (ICT)[88] [89] usage in the developing world found that 11% of Indonesians who said they used Facebook also said they did not use the Internet. 65% of Nigerians, and 61% of Indonesians agree with the statement that "Facebook is the Internet" compared with only 5% in the US.[90]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Internet.org: About. January 8, 2014.
  2. Web site: Facebook And 6 Phone Companies Launch Internet.org To Bring Affordable Access To Everyone. Constine. Josh. August 20, 2013. January 8, 2014.
  3. Web site: Facebook Rebrands Internet.Org App As "Free Basics". Fast Company. en-US. 2015-11-23.
  4. Web site: Facebook's Internet.org has connected almost 100M to the 'internet'. 2020-11-22. TechCrunch. en-US.
  5. Web site: Blow To Internet.org As Indian Internet Companies Begin To Withdraw . . April 15, 2015 . April 20, 2015 .
  6. Web site: Under Fire In India, Facebook's Internet.org Launches In Indonesia - TechCrunch. Jon. Russell.
  7. News: India blocks Facebook Free Basics internet scheme. BBC. 8 February 2016.
  8. News: Solon. Olivia. 2017-07-27. 'It's digital colonialism': how Facebook's free internet service has failed its users. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-10-27. 0261-3077.
  9. Web site: Liao. Shannon. 2017-07-27. Facebook's Free Basics violates net neutrality and isn't even that good, says report. 2020-10-27. The Verge. en.
  10. Web site: 2017-07-27. Can Facebook Connect the Next Billion? · Global Voices Advocacy. 2020-10-27. Global Voices Advocacy. en.
  11. Book: Global Voices. Voices, G. (2017). Free Basics in real life: Six case studies on Facebook's Internet "on ramp" initiative from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Global Voices Foundation. 2017. Amsterdam.
  12. News: Mark Zuckerberg and Malay Bhayani launches Internet.org to connect 'the next 5 billion'. Farr. Christina. August 20, 2013. January 8, 2014. VentureBeat.
  13. Web site: Zuckerberg Wants to Bring the Whole Planet Internet Access. Schroeder. Stan. August 21, 2013. January 8, 2014. Mashable.
  14. Web site: Is Connectivity a Human Right?. Zuckerberg. Mark. Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg. August 20, 2013. January 8, 2014.
  15. Web site: Zuckerberg's Manifest Destiny: Connecting The 5 Billion People Without Internet. Constine. Josh. September 11, 2013. January 8, 2014.
  16. Web site: Zuckerberg: Let's make the Internet 100x more affordable: Working with his Internet.org partners, Facebook's CEO outlines what needs to be done to drop the cost of Web access worldwide.. Kerr. Dara. September 30, 2013. CNet. January 8, 2014.
  17. News: Facebook-Led Internet.org Partners With Nokia On SocialEDU In Rwanda, Unilever In India, Ericsson On New Lab To Connect Developing Economies. Lunden. Ingrid. February 24, 2014. TechCrunch. February 25, 2014.
  18. News: WhatsApp Is Actually Worth More Than $19B, Says Facebook's Zuckerberg, And It Was Internet.org That Sealed The Deal. Lunden. Ingrid. February 24, 2014. TechCrunch. February 24, 2014.
  19. Web site: Mark Zuckerberg: WhatsApp is worth more than $19 billion. Fitzsimmons. Michelle. February 24, 2014. TechRadar. February 24, 2014.
  20. Web site: Zuckerberg takes long view with WhatsApp, Internet. https://web.archive.org/web/20190620013628/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/zuckerberg-talks-whatsapp-internet-access-for-all/2014/02/24/5c54226c-9d84-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html. dead. June 20, 2019. February 24, 2014. Associated Press. February 25, 2014.
  21. News: Facebook Opens Internet.Org To All Developers In Response To Net Neutrality Concerns. May 4, 2015. TechCrunch. May 9, 2015.
  22. Web site: Announcing the Internet.org Platform. May 4, 2015. Facebook. May 9, 2015.
  23. Web site: Announcing the Connectivity Lab at Facebook. March 27, 2014. Internet.org. April 5, 2014.
  24. News: Facebook Will Deliver Internet Via Drones With "Connectivity Lab" Project Powered By Acqhires From Ascenta. Constine. Josh. March 27, 2014. TechCrunch. April 5, 2014.
  25. News: Facebook Joins Google In The Hunt For The Future. Constine. Josh. March 27, 2014. TechCrunch. April 5, 2014.
  26. Facebook Will Build Drones and Satellites to Beam Internet Around the World. Metz. Cade. March 27, 2014. Wired Magazine. April 5, 2014.
  27. Web site: Announcing the Connectivity Lab at Facebook – English. 27 March 2014.
  28. News: Zuck Says "Sure", Facebook Would Love To Work With Google On Global Internet Access. Constine. Josh. March 2, 2015. TechCrunch. April 20, 2015.
  29. News: Mark Zuckerberg shuns Google's Project Loon to focus on 'real work'. Ramli. David. March 3, 2015. Sydney Morning Herald. April 20, 2015.
  30. Web site: Facebook to beam free internet to Africa with satellites. Heather. Kelly. 5 October 2015. CNNMoney.
  31. Web site: Facebook, Eutelsat To Pay Spacecom $95M for Ka-band Lease. 6 October 2015. Spacenews. 10 October 2015. Peter B. de Selding.
  32. News: 1 September 2016 . Launchpad Explosion Destroys SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket, Satellite in Florida . 1 September 2016 . Malik . Tariq . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160902140256/http://www.space.com/33929-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad.html . 2 September 2016 . live.
  33. News: Google bids adieu to Facebook's Free Basics in Zambia. 20 January 2016. Times of India. 20 January 2016. Kim Arora.
  34. Web site: Mark Zuckerberg to meet PM Narendra Modi tomorrow. October 9, 2014. Deccan Chronicle (via PTI). April 20, 2015.
  35. Web site: Mark Zuckerberg to meet Narendra Modi: Schedule of the Internet.org summit. October 9, 2014. India.com. April 20, 2015.
  36. Web site: Facebook CEO in India: Key highlights of the Modi-Zuckerberg meeting. 12 October 2014. FirstPost (via PTI). April 20, 2015.
  37. Web site: Mark Zuckerberg addresses the first Internet.org summit in New Delhi; to meet PM Modi on October 10. https://web.archive.org/web/20141010065143/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mark-zuckerberg-addresses-the-first-internetorg-summit-in-new-delhi-to-meet-pm-modi-on-october-10/504908-11.html. dead. October 10, 2014. October 9, 2014. IBNLive.com. April 20, 2015.
  38. News: Mark Zuckerberg to HT: Net neutrality and universal connectivity must co-exist. https://web.archive.org/web/20150416093423/http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology-topstories/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-ht-net-neutrality-and-universal-connectivity-must-co-exist/article1-1337766.aspx. dead. April 16, 2015. Zuckerberg. Mark. Mark Zuckerberg. April 17, 2015. Hindustan Times. April 20, 2015.
  39. Web site: Internet.org is just a Facebook proxy targeting India's poor. Murthy. Mahesh. April 17, 2015. FirstPost. April 20, 2015.
  40. News: Dear Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook is not, and should not be the internet. https://web.archive.org/web/20150416235830/http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology-topstories/mr-zuckerberg-facebook-is-not-and-should-not-be-the-internet/article1-1337944.aspx. dead. April 16, 2015. April 17, 2015. Hindustan Times. SaveTheInternet.in coalition. April 20, 2015.
  41. News: PMO displeased with Facebook's reaction to Trai's consultation paper. February 4, 2016. The Economic Times. Anandita Singh Mankotia. February 4, 2016.
  42. Web site: Free Basics - FAQ - Documentation - Facebook for Developers. Facebook Developers. en-US. 2016-03-07.
  43. Web site: Indian startups are pulling out of Facebook's Internet.org to protect net neutrality. A groundswell of concern over providing certain apps free of charge. Popper. Ben. April 15, 2015. The Verge. April 20, 2015.
  44. Web site: Indian tech companies are pulling out of Facebook's Internet.org campaign over net neutrality violations. Weinberger. Matt. April 15, 2015. Business Insider. April 20, 2015.
  45. Web site: Internet.org and India: Companies Pulling Out Of Facebook's Non-profit Service Amid Net Neutrality Concerns A number of Indian internet providers have pulled out of Internet.org's free internet initiative, claiming they're doing it for Net Neutrality reasons.. Hutton. Christopher. April 16, 2015. hngn.com. April 20, 2015.
  46. News: Facebook 'I support Free Basics' campaign is wholly misplaced, says TRAI. 21 January 2016. Indian Express. 21 January 2016. Tech Desk.
  47. Web site: India just about accuses Facebook of faking Free Basics fandom. 21 January 2016. The Register. 21 January 2016. Simon Sharwood.
  48. Web site: India blocks Facebook's plan for free Internet. Charles. Riley. February 8, 2016. CNNMoney.
  49. News: Facebook withdraws the controversial 'Free Basics' platform from India. 11 February 2016. Times of India.
  50. Web site: Facebook's Express Wi-Fi launches commercially in India . Lardinois . Frederic . TechCrunch . 4 May 2017 . en . 2018-01-02.
  51. News: Introducing the Internet.org App. Internet.org . 31 July 2014 . Guy Rosen, Product Management Director.
  52. News: Internet.org App Launches in Tanzania. Adweek . 29 October 2014 . David Cohen.
  53. News: Facebook's Internet.Org App Launches In Kenya - Just Don't Call It Philanthropy . Forbes . 13 November 2014 . Federico Guerrini.
  54. News: Facebook's Internet.org app launches in Colombia . The Next Web. 14 January 2015 . Owen Williams.
  55. News: Ghana: Facebook, Airtel Partner to Bring Internet.org APP to Ghana . AllAfrica . 26 January 2015 . January 27, 2015 . Lilian Mutegi . Nairobi.
  56. News: Facebook Takes Internet.org And Its Free Mobile Data Services To India. TechCrunch. 10 February 2015.
  57. Web site: Facebook and Smart's Talk 'N text bring basic Internet mobile service without the charge. philstar.com.
  58. https://www.adobomagazine.com/archived/internet-org-is-now-facebook-free-basics-partners-with-globe-in-the-ph/
  59. News: Facebook Launches Internet.org in Guatemala, Moves to New Offices in California. 7 April 2015.
  60. News: Under Fire In India, Facebook's Internet.org Launches In Indonesia. April 20, 2015. May 8, 2015. TechCrunch. Russell. John.
  61. News: Internet.org to be launched today . . 10 May 2015 . 10 May 2015.
  62. Web site: Free basic service has been announced to be closed in Bangladesh from 18 July 2020. .
  63. https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/14/facebook-internet-org-malawi Facebook's free internet service expands to Malawi
  64. Web site: UrduPoint.com on Internet.org. www.urdupoint.com.
  65. Web site: انٹرنیٹ Archives - Hazara News. Hazara News.
  66. Web site: Zong Facebook Freebasics. www.zong.com.pk. 2016-03-26. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409034613/https://www.zong.com.pk/value-added-services/mobile-internet/internet-packages/facebook-freebasics. 2016-04-09.
  67. Web site: Zong Launches Free Basics (Internet.org) in Pakistan. 2016-03-26.
  68. News: Zong to provide Free internet via Free Basics (Internet.org). Chaboi. Zulfiqar. 2015-12-16. Hotchpotch Post. en-US. 2016-12-18.
  69. News: Senegal: Facebook, Tigo Partner to Bring Internet.org to Senegal. AllAfrica / CIO East Africa (Nairobi). 5 June 2015. 2015-06-09. Lilian. Mutegi.
  70. Web site: Mark Zuckerberg. www.facebook.com.
  71. Web site: lostiempos.com (Spanish). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150620045136/http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/vida-y-futuro/20150618/bolivia-ya-forma-parte-de-internetorg-de-facebook_305556_675579.html. 2015-06-20.
  72. Web site: posted on Mark Zuckerberg's Official Facebook Profile. www.facebook.com.
  73. Web site: CellPhone Contracts, Prepaid & Data - Cell C. www.cellc.co.za.
  74. Web site: Facebook's free internet service has been shut down in Egypt . The Verge. 30 December 2015 .
  75. Web site: Facebook's Controversial Free Basics Program Shuts Down In Egypt. 31 December 2015 .
  76. News: Exclusive: Egypt blocked Facebook Internet service over surveillance - sources. Reuters. April 1, 2016. www.reuters.com.
  77. Web site: Free Basics . Korek Telecom . 2015-12-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160104092020/http://www.korektel.com/services/data-offers/freebasics-com . 2016-01-04 . dead .
  78. Web site: Bienvenue sur la page foire aux questions. 2016-06-26. bip.mg. fr. 2016-06-26.
  79. Web site: Etisalat Now Allows Subscribers To Use Free Basics. Michael. Ajah. February 22, 2017. NaijaTechGuy. 2018-12-13.
  80. Web site: life:) открыл бесплатный доступ к TUT.BY и Facebook. 2017-04-13. tut.by. ru. 2017-04-13. 2017-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170516162634/https://42.tut.by/538546. dead.
  81. Web site: life:) открывает бесплатный доступ к Facebook и TUT.BY для своих абонентов. 2017-04-13. life.com.by. ru. 2017-09-18.
  82. Web site: Facebook and Google: "We're Going to Need a Bigger Internet". Datamation. August 21, 2013. Elgan. Mike. January 15, 2014.
  83. Web site: The internet space race is on: Google Loon vs Facebook drones vs SpaceX satellites. Edwards. Luke. March 27, 2015. Pocket Lint. April 20, 2015.
  84. News: In the race between Google and Facebook over global connectivity, everyone is winning. O'Brien. Chris. March 5, 2015. VentureBeat. April 20, 2015.
  85. Web site: Why Google and Facebook need balloons, drones and rockets. Elgan. Mike. December 6, 2014. Computerworld. April 20, 2014.
  86. Web site: Drones vs. balloons: Zuckerberg explains why wings are better for the internet than helium. March 28, 2014. GigaOm. April 20, 2015.
  87. Facebook's Two Faces. Talbot. David. David Talbot. December 17, 2013. January 8, 2014. Technology Review.
  88. Web site: Is Facebook Zero the Future of Public Internet Access . Maria . Andersen . Aug 29, 2014 . ICT Works .
  89. Web site: ICT Works . Resource for sharing and expanding knowledge on appropriate information and communication technologies (ICT) and the implementation processes that can make them sustainable in rural and underserved communities across the developing world .
  90. Web site: Millions of Facebook users have no idea they're using the internet. Leo Mirani. 9 Feb 2015.

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