Facebook, Virgin Mobile Bring Free Basics to Mexico Kavit Majithia - Mobile World Live
go to original December 15, 2015

Our plan is to make basic internet services affordable, so everyone with a phone can join the knowledge economy. Mark Zuckerberg explains how we'll do it. (Internet.org)

Facebook teamed with local MVNO Virgin Mobile Mexico for the latest launch of Free Basics, the product of its internet.org initiative, as it attempts to reach the half of the country’s population who are not online.

Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s founder, announced the launch on his Facebook page.

“Now half of the population who are unconnected will have free access to internet services for education, health, jobs and communication on the Virgin Mobile network,” he said.

“I believe spreading internet access will not only create opportunities in Mexico, but also create more understanding of this great country and its people.”

According to GSMA Intelligence, Mexico has almost 105 million mobile connections and a population of 126 million (end-Q3 2015 figures).

Facebook’s strategy is about bringing unconnected users online by offering a set of internet content for no access cost, particularly in emerging markets.

Read the rest at Mobile World Live

Related: Mark Zuckerberg Shares Heartfelt Message About New Internet Milestone (EarnTheNecklace.com)

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!