Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced that it has decided to end its Express Wi-Fi program, which is designed to provide low-cost internet in developing countries through partnerships with local communities, mobile operators and businesses. Here are the details…
The couple who had a Harry Potter-themed wedding in Metaverse was on the agenda!
A couple planning a wedding in India is planning a virtual wedding to circumvent attendance restrictions related to Covid-19.
Meta pulls the plug on Express Wi-Fi service
Launched by Meta (then known as Facebook) in 2016, Express Wi-Fi was not free, like the company’s failed Free Basics program, which was rejected by Indian courts for violating net neutrality.
Instead, the company’s Express Wi-Fi was designed to be relatively affordable for developing countries, starting at around 15 cents for 100MB usage or $5 for 20GB usage.
Facebook has partnered with satellite companies, ISPs, and others in places like India, South Africa, and the Philippines. Retailers were also able to sell hotspots at reasonable rates determined by themselves and the operator, rather than Facebook.
Meta planned to benefit by gaining access to new customers, which they hoped would undoubtedly create Facebook accounts. Because, as with Google, most of the company’s recent growth has come from developing countries where people were first online.
Recent news has revealed that glitches in Meta’s free internet services are revealing unwanted fees for users in countries like Pakistan. It is also said that the company supports its own content in its free data Discover service, to the detriment of other sites.
Meta said it is focusing on other projects related to internet access while ending its Express Wi-Fi service. Then a company spokesperson said in a statement:
As we complete our work on this program to focus on developing other projects, we are committed to working with partners in the telecom ecosystem to provide better connectivity. We will also continue to work with our partners to minimize impact to their business while keeping networks up and running.
What do you think about this subject? Don’t forget to share your feedback with us on the SDN Forum or in the comments!