Internet.org launched last year and Facebook is now celebrating the one-year milestone with plans to scale things up, welcoming more mobile networks.
Facebook first launched Internet.org in Zambia, but has expanded the service to 17 more countries across three continents over the past year. Internet.org is designed to provide free Internet access to basic online services in developing countries, aiming to get more people online.
So far, however, only a few select mobile networks had access to Facebook and Internet.org to make services available. To celebrate a successful first year, Facebook is now taking things to the next level.
More specifically, Facebook just announced plans to allow any carrier to sign up and become a partner of the organization, providing basic Internet services free of data charges through Internet.org.
According to Facebook, Internet.org attracts new users to mobile networks more than 50 percent faster on average after the launch of free basic Internet services. Moreover, more than 50 percent of users who get online, thanks to Internet.org, have moved to pay for data in the first 30 days, looking to benefit from wider Internet access.
This not only boosts Internet accessibility, but also increases Internet adoption rates among people who were previously unaware of the value and benefits of online services.
Internet.org users accessed health services, for instance, more than a million times over the past month, Facebook further points out.
"As we approach year two, we've taken everything we've learned from working closely with our partners and are now ready to scale Internet.org free basic services," Facebook touts in a new announcement. "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."
With this goal in mind, Facebook set up a new portal specifically designed to allow interested operators to sign up and become Internet.org partners.
It remains to be seen how many new operators will take the challenge and join the Internet.org effort, but it's nonetheless good news to see Facebook making efforts to scale things up and widen possibilities.
