Over 85% of the world’s population lives in areas with existing cellular coverage, yet only about 30% of the total population accesses the internet. Affordability and awareness are significant barriers to internet adoption for many.
A year ago, Mark Zuckerberg had announced Internet.org, Facebook's effort to bring affordable internet access to everyone in the world. This would widely cover access to free basic internet services - tools for health, education, jobs and basic communication. In last one year, while working with mobile operators around the world to deliver on this goal, Facebook has already helped 3 million people access the internet who had no access before.
Today, Facebook has introduced the much awaited Internet.org app. With this app, people can browse a set of useful health, employment and local information services without data charges. The app aims to bring more people online and help them discover valuable services they might not have otherwise.
Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg shared on his facebook page,
Today, I'm excited to announce the launch of the Internet.org app in Zambia. Right now, only 15% of people in Zambia have access to the internet. Soon, everyone will be able to use the internet for free to find jobs, get help with reproductive health and other aspects of health, and use tools like Facebook to stay connected with the people they love.
This is a big step forward in achieving the mission of Facebook and Internet.org. We're looking forward to bringing free basic services to more countries soon.
- The Internet.org app will be available first to Airtel subscribers in Zambia and we’ll continue to improve the experience and roll it out to other parts of the world. Through the Internet.org app, Airtel customers in Zambia will have basic access to:AccuWeather
- Airtel
- eZeLibrary
- Facts for Life
- Google Search
- Go Zambia Jobs
- Kokoliko
- MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action)
- Messenger
- Wikipedia
- WRAPP (Women’s Rights App)
- Zambia uReport
Airtel customers in Zambia can access these services in the Internet.org Android app, at www.internet.org, or within the Facebook for Android app.