Facebook's Internet for All is a Tough Sell in India

Strategic Insights -

Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious plan to bring the internet to four billion people who lack it has hit a roadblock in India, where phone sellers are skeptical about Facebook's internet.org project. Despite its good intentions, internet.org has been bogged down by technical issues, slow data speeds, and criticism from internet activists who see it as a way for Facebook to control access to the internet.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over two dozen interviews in poor neighborhoods of Mumbai revealed that few people had heard of internet.org, and even fewer used it regularly.
  • Phone card sellers like Shoaib Khan and Rizwan Khan expressed skepticism about the project, citing poor data speeds, limited services, and lack of awareness among customers.
  • Facebook's claims of introducing a million people to the internet in India through internet.org have been disputed by critics, who argue that the project is more about promoting Facebook's own services than providing truly free internet access.
  • The Indian government is considering new rules to govern free services like internet.org, which has raised concerns among internet advocates who see it as a threat to net neutrality.
  • Facebook has made changes to internet.org, including opening it to other companies that want to offer free services, but critics remain concerned about its impact on the open internet.
  • Reliance's Consumer Business Gurdeep Singh acknowledged that the company needs to do more to raise awareness about Freenet and persuade retailers to promote it, but remained committed to the project.

Statistics:

  • Over 130 million Indian users are on Facebook.
  • Reliance's Freenet has gained limited traction, with few customers taking notice of its services.
  • Despite Facebook's claims, only one person in 12 interviews regularly used the free version of Facebook Messenger on internet.org.
  • 36% of phone card sellers in India do not have a phone capable of internet access.
  • 1 million signatures were collected in India to press regulators to stop internet.org and establish rules protecting net neutrality.

Sources:

  • The New York Times
  • The Express Tribune