Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's free internet initiative, Internet.org, has celebrated its first year on Sunday, July 26. In line with its first anniversary, the team behind the project has expressed that it is going to welcome more partner carriers to better support the initiative. Furthermore, it is now easier for operators to join Internet.org.
In an official post regarding the matter, Facebook stated that, "We've made it easier for any mobile operator to turn on Internet.org in new countries through a partner portal that includes technical tools and best practices, improving the process to offer free basic services to the unconnected. New operator partners can get started at www.internet.org/operators."
The initiative has provided free internet access to almost 20 countries around the world, most of which are developing countries. To go about this, Facebook has enlisted more than a dozen mobile operators to make mobile data free of charge for the users. Some prominent names in Internet.org are Nokia and Samsung. Wireless internet has been provided by the companies, with Facebook and other leading tech companies, with the cost for data usage also paid by them.
Internet.org has reportedly enabled more than one billion people around the world to use the internet. Countries that are part of the project include the Philippines, Africa and India, apart from Zambia, where it was first introduced. Internet.org, partnered with local mobile operators from the countries and some prominent tech companies, enable low-end phones to connect to the internet. In Africa and India, the demographic of internet users is almost entirely reliant on mobile devices.
Zuckerberg's initiative has garnered praises all over the world. The platform has enabled the less fortunate to have access to some important and basic needs, the post claimed. "In the past month people using Internet.org accessed health services more than a million times, which speaks to the ultimate goal of Internet.org -- helping to make an impact in people's lives."
