The Free Basics service, has been in the midst of Net neutrality debate, offers free access to a set of basic websites and services with the objective of introducing Internet to the people. Typically Free Free Free, is welcomed by one and all but FaceBook Free Basics has raised many concerns. This article covers What is Freebasics? How does if offer basic services free? Is it different from Internet.org? Is FreeBasics available in India? What is Net Neutrality? What is Save Free Basics campaign?
What is Facebook Free Basics?
Free Basics makes the internet accessible to more people free to people by providing them on mobile access to a range of free basic services or sites like news, maternal health, travel, local jobs, sports, communication, and local government information. As the name says, it is free. You don’t need Wifi and you don’t have to pay for data charges to telecom service providers on your mobile. People will get free Service for, without subscribing to any data pack or plan. However, this free access is limited to partner websites and applications.
Examples of few of Free Services that are available in India are:for Social Networking Facebook ,Career Jagran Josh, For Health Malaria No More, Facts for Life (Unicef), Social Blood, For Information wikiHow,Wikipedia,Dictionary.com, Cricket ESPN Cricinfo, News Aaj Tak,BBC News,IBN Live,Daily Bhaskar, Jobs BabaJob, Shopping OLX,Women Empowerment Nike Foundation (Girl Effect), UN Women (iLearn). Image below shows services on the Facebook free basics
Facebook FreeBasics
Hoes does Facebook provide the basic services free? What is Free Basic Platform?
Facebook provides basic services free through Free Basics Platform. The developers create services that integrate with Free Basics Platform. Facebook is partnering with ISPs to provide preferential and selective access to a set of app developers and services. One can read more about the platform at https://developers.facebook.com/docs/internet-org
Why is Facebook providing Free Basics ?
Facebook has partnered more than a dozen mobile operators across 19 countries to provide the free internet platform. It been initiated by Facebook ostensibly as a philanthropic activity to provide free basic internet connectivity to the unconnected across Asian, African and Latin American regions. As Facebook says By introducing people to the benefits of the internet through these services, we hope to bring more people online and help improve their lives. Our goal is to work with as many developers as possible to extend the benefits of connectivity to diverse, local communities around the world. Some of the countries where Facebook provides Free Basic services are:
July 2014: Zambia
October 2014: Tanzania
November 2014: Kenya
January 2015: Colombia
January 2015: Ghana, with Airtel
10 February 2015: India with Reliance Communications
18 March 2015: Philippines with Smart Communications
31 March 2015: Guatemala with Tigo
20 April 2015: Indonesia with Indosat
10 May 2015: Bangladesh with Robi
13 May 2015: Malawi with TNM and Airtel
28 May 2015: Pakistan with Telenor Pakistan
5 June 2015: Senegal with Tigo
19 June 2015: Bolivia with VIVA
1 July 2015 : South Africa with Cell C
How does FreeBasics differ from Internet.org?
FreeBasics is same as Internet.org. Internet.org was rechristened Free Basics in September 2015, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Facebook’s headquarters at founder Mark Zuckerberg’s invitation. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has time and again defended the platform, saying that it aims to connect those who have not been able to get access to the internet. But faced with a barrage of criticism, the company in September this year decided to re-christen internet.org as Free Basics while allowing any application or developer on the platform, provided it “meets basic technical requirement”
Is only Facebook offering free services?
Earlier in India, Airtel had offered a similar platform called Airtel Zero, using a concept called zero-rating. This is a practice where internet service providers do not charge customers on data for select applications that they use. Following a huge public outcry for equal access of internet, a number of firms, including Flipkart, pulled out of Airtel Zero. Similarly, Cleartrip and NDTV had also pulled out of internet.org.
Since when is FreeBasics available?
Internet.org was launched on August 20, 2013. At the time of launch, Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a ten-page whitepaper,Is Connectivity a human right, elaborating on the vision.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.
Why is there criticism against Facebook Free Basics?
Facebook is partnering with ISPs to provide preferential and selective access to a set of app developers and services. This is the main criticism of those opposed to Free Basics, they argue that the internet should be free and equal for all users. This is also the cornerstone of net neutrality.On Dec 22 Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma tweeted Oh my fellow Indians, either choose this & do a jihaad for independent Internet later or pick #NetNeutrality today. https://twitter.com/joshconstine/status/679138372607078400 One can read Facebook’s response to Times of India on Free Basics , Facebook Update to Internet.org Free Basic Services
What’s net neutrality?
Net neutrality means access to free and unbiased internet for all. To put it in simple terms, anyone from anywhere around the world should be able to access or provide services and content on the internet without any discrimination.
Yes Reliance Communications is Facebook’s sole telecom partner in India to offer a set of basic internet services free to its subscribers. Facebook launched the initiative in India in February by partnering with Reliance Communications. It started with free access to select 33 websites across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa.
How does Free Basic work in India?
Reliance Communications is Facebook’s sole telecom partner in India to offer a set of basic internet services free to its subscribers.
On mobile through Web browser :
- Go to freebasics.com using mobile web browser.
- Customer will be presented with the language selection page where choice of language can be selected. By default, the regional language will be selected. Customer can opt for other languages by clicking ‘+’ button on the page.
- Click “Continue” to get to the main page of freebasics, with “Free Services” & “Reliance” sections displayed in the choice of language.
On Mobile through App
One can also download the freebasics app (only available on android currently), from the Google Play store. One time data downloading charges of the freebasics android app is NOT free and you will be charged as per your data tariff. Alternately, customer can go to freebasics to access the site to avoid the one-time app download charge. I
So if one uses FreeBasics everything on internet is free?
Yes and no. One will get free Service for, without subscribing to any data pack/plan for
- Using the application, One can access Facebook, Free News on sites like Aaj Tak, etc. Cricket updates on Cricinfo, Job search on sites like BabaJob, Weather updates on Accuweather, Train and flight schedules on Dictionary service, Language Translator, Health related Information, Daily horoscope & Astrology, OLX, Wikipedia & much more.
- List of Preferred Browsers:Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Mini, Android Browser, Dolphin, Samsung Native Browser & Nokia Native Browser. Note that UC browser is not supported.
- No Data Charges : If One is subscribed to Data Plan/Packs when he uses freebasics, then for Prepaid GSM & CDMA Users, there will be NO depletion from their data quota or from Main Account balance on using freebasics. For Postpaid GSM Users will NOT be charged for freebasics & their data quota will not deplete, but on PCRF this usage will be accounted for.
So if one Uses Facebook FreeBasics what charges will be applicable?
Charges will be applicable as per data plan or pack, if one:
- Acceses Freebasic from CDMA Mobile Postpaid or 3G/ Reliance 3/Pro 3 Dongle.
- Clicks on a link that directs to a different website, outside of freebasics hosted sites, then he will get a prompt with the message informing him that he is stepping out of the Free website.
- Clicks on pictures or videos, where he is advised that it is chargeable as per his data tariff.
- Smartphone has some applications running in the background, utilizing data.
- Surfs Facebook or any other free sites directly instead of going through freebasics.
What is this Save Free Basics campaign?
Facebook has started an aggressive print and digital media campaign for a “connected India” campaign in India to gather public support for its free Internet platform
Facebook has come up full page advertisements in leading newspapers. Its advertisement was also seen at public places which also shares a toll-free number where people can give miss call to register their support for Free Basics. Facebook has also been asking its users to send an e-mail to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) supporting “essential internet for all”. he campaign is run on Facebook,the social networking site which has over 130 million users in India, its second largest user base globally. The social network claims to have gained support from 3.2 million. Facebook in a note said that it had mistakenly launched the emailer campaign outside India.
The campaign ‘Act Now to Save Free Basics in India‘ asks users to send a message on their behalf to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India with a subject line that reads “I support Free Basics in India.” The message reads:
“To the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, I support digital equality for India. Free Basics provides free access to essential internet services like communication, education, healthcare, employment, farming and more. It helps those who can’t afford to pay for data, or who need a little help getting started online. And it’s open to all people, developers and mobile operators. With 1 billion Indian people not yet connected, shutting down Free Basics would hurt our country’s most vulnerable people. I support Free Basics – and digital equality for India. Thank you.”
Facebook ad on Free Basics. Click on image to see full ad
Image below shows Mark Zuckerberg Twitter message on how Facebook FreeBasics is helping
How Facebook Free Basics is helping
What is your opinion on Facebook Free Basics? What do you think of Net Neutrality? Does Facebook Free Basics violates Net Neutrality? Do you think Facebook has a hidden agenda in guise of Free Basics? Will Free Basics be saved in India?
Follow
