Facebook Plans Commercial Launch of Rural WiFi in India (indiatimes.com) 19
An anonymous reader shares a report from India's Economic Times: Social networking giant Facebook is in talks with internet service providers (ISPs) to expand its Express Wi-Fi program into a commercial launch in India, having completed a pilot roll out of 125 rural public Wi-Fi hotspots in a tie-up with state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. Express Wi-Fi is a Mark Zuckerberg-headed Internet giant's initiative aimed at taking affordable broadband to the rural areas of the country in partnerships with internet service companies and small entrepreneurs. "Facebook is investing in the development of the connectivity ecosystem by providing techno-commercial assistance to local ISP partners and entrepreneurs," a person aware of the matter said.In a statement to Slashdot, a Facebook spokesperson said; "We are currently in the early stages of testing Express Wi-Fi with multiple local ISP partners in India." The company, however, declined to share any update on Express Wi-Fi's commercial launch in the country. It's worth noting that this is Facebook's second major attempt to capture India's market. The company's Free Basics, an initiative wherein Facebook offers its users access to select websites and services for free, was rejected by the local authority on the grounds of net neutrality. With Express Wi-Fi, the company doesn't seem to be favoring any particular service, and is making access to the entire internet available for cheap price.
Google beat them to the punch apparently (Score:3)
I always thought FB would out-disrupt Google, but it looks like FB's naked ploy to balkanize the Indian internet went over like a lead ballon.
Google FTW: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/... [bloomberg.com]
Now Zuck has to look like a follower... again.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Whatever. A content provider who also provides access or playback equipment is pure evil. The equation works every time.
I see all this hate for FaceBook and or Google around here. What other ways are people in these parts of the world likely to get online? How are your own efforts working out, for that matter?
Re: (Score:1)
What other ways are people in these parts of the world likely to get online?
Is that the priority in a country where misogyny is culturally ingrained, where the class system excuses all bad behaviour, where embezzling the government is standard practice?
Yes, it absolutely should be. The spread of ideas and knowledge from all over the world through the internet is a wonderful thing. Developing it and helping everyone have access to it should be a priority. Are you saying that they should not seek to have internet access until all their other problems are solved? Why not? It's a non-sequitur. Also, where does it say India is trading monopolies for infrastructure? As far as I can tell from TFA and other recent stories, Facebook initially wanted a tiered prici