Facebook’s Internet.org Hits 5th Country; Ghana
First launched in Zambia, Internet.org then moved to Kenya, Tanzania and Colombia, finally getting to Ghana as it’s 5th stopover. The mobile operators on which Internet.org can be accessed are:
- Zambia – Airtel
- Kenya – Airtel
- Tanzania – Tigo
- Colombia – Tigo
- Ghana – Airtel
Internet.org is an application that allows users on partner mobile operator networks free basic access to various websites. Initiated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg, it was created with the aim to provide free basic internet access to some of the most important websites globally that are educational and informational.
The basic access will be for the following sites in Ghana:
- GhanaWeb
- BBC News
- AccuWeather
- BabyCenter & MAMA
- Ebola Information
- Facts for Life
- FunDza
- Girl Effect
- Jobberman
- Messenger
- News24
- Scholars4Dev
- SuperSport
- Tonaton.com
- Wattpad
- Wikipedia
The reason the app was created, according to Internet.org’s website, was because ‘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 and today we are introducing the Internet.org app to make the internet accessible to more people by providing a set of free basic services.
With this app, people can browse a set of useful health, employment and local information services without data charges. By providing free basic services via the app, we hope to bring more people online and help them discover valuable services they might not have otherwise.’
Internet.org requires Android 2.3 and higher and has been installed between 100000 – 500000 times according to the Google Play Store. Download the app here.
