Its not yet uhuru for Facebook's FreeBasics in Nigeria which was launched earlier this month. Paradigm
Initiative Nigeria(PIN), an NGO focused on youth and ICT development released a
lengthy statement via twitter yesterday, about why Nigerians should not get very excited
over the seemingly 'free' internet access just yet. As the saying goes,
'nothing is ever free even in Freetown'.
According to Facebook, Free basics
is an open platform that makes the internet accessible for free those who
cannot afford it. However, this free access is limited to partner websites and
applications. In Nigeria, it is provided by only Airtel for now and has some
apps and websites like Jobberman, OLX, BBC, the Guardian on it. It was
launched two years ago pre-dominantly in developing countries
PIN voiced out its concern as follows '...only subscribers on
an Internet Service Provider Facebook partners with, will enjoy these free
services to the exclusion of others – it is unfair to list some services
and exclude their competition... Facebook is clearly using this as a marketing
strategy so it’s not as much a social intervention as it is an opportunity to
get more people to use their service and become part of their product offering...Free Basics is a strategy that segregates the internet space for
commercial purpose and not as a social intervention initiative.' https://twitter.com/pinigeria
In other words, the motives of
Facebook is not entirely altruistic but for profit-making by stifling
competition by excluding other ISPs, Telcos, websites or apps. Interestingly, its been thrown out of India ont the basis of the “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations" and i doubt if countries like the US
that support net-neutrality (ie ensuring that all users have access to the
internet on equal terms) will support this. Maybe Nigerian legislators and
regulators need to pay closer attention to this 'Greek gift' than scramble for
juicy positions
Makes me wonder then, what the
essence of a free internet is when it is not totally free?
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