Internet.Org’s App With Free Access To Google,Facebook, Wikipedia, Local Info & Jobs Launches In Zambia

Over 85% of the world’s population lives in areas that have cellular coverage, but only about 30% of the total population accesses the internet. Affordability,awareness & data charges is one of the main reasons that internet services are not adapted by many.

Almost year ago, Mark Zuckerberg announced Internet.org, Facebook’s effort to bring affordable internet access to everyone in the world and create awareness for the same. This would widely cover access to basic internet services – tools for health, jobs, education and basic communication. In last one year, while working on this project various mobile operators around the world came forward to deliver on this goal, Infact  Facebook has already helped 3 million people access the internet who had no access before.

Facebook's Internet.org project took another leap toward to its goal of bringing the Internet to people who are not yet online with an app launching on Thursday in Zambia.

This Internet.org app will give subscribers of Zambia's Airtel users access to a set of basic Internet services for free. Users of the app won't incur any the data charges that was prohibitive for many people in developing nations. Services accessible through this app range from AccuWeather to Google search, Wikipedia, a job search site as well as a breadth of health information. Facebook's own app, along with its Messenger service, is also included. The app will work on Android phones as well as the simple "feature phones" that are used by the majority in Zambia, said Guy Rosen, product management director @ Internet.org.

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.

Airtel customers in Zambia can access all these services in the Internet.org Android app, at www.internet.org, or within the Facebook for Android app.

This is a video by facebook on Introducing the Internet.org app.