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==Background==
==Background==
===First Year of Operation===
===First Year of Operation===
Free Basics marked its one-year anniversary in Zambia, where it first began working with the telecommunications company [[Airtel]]. Zuckerberg says this partnership allowed got "hundreds of thousands of people access to some basic services for health, education, jobs, communication".<ref name="youtube"></ref><ref>[http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/07/one-year-in-internet-org-free-basic-services/ One Year In], FB.com. Published 2015 July 26. Retrieved 2015 November 13. Updated 2016 April 23.</ref>
Free Basics marked its one-year anniversary in Zambia, where it first began working with the telecommunications company [[Airtel]]. Zuckerberg says this partnership allowed got "hundreds of thousands of people access to some basic services for health, education, jobs, communication".<ref name="youtube"></ref><ref name="fb">[http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/07/one-year-in-internet-org-free-basic-services/ One Year In], FB.com. Published 2015 July 26. Retrieved 2015 November 13. Updated 2016 April 23.</ref>
===Rebranding from Internet.org to Free Basics===
===Rebranding from Internet.org to Free Basics===
The rebrand and new Free Basics app also supported secure [[HTTPS]] services, and included privacy language "so that users will know what data will be collected". Users were also given the option on the app or mobile web version to add a number of free services, provided from a list of more than 250 providers.<ref name="opening">[http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/facebook-opens-up-internet-org-with-new-free-basics-apps/ Facebook renames Internet.org as ‘Free Basics’, offers open platform for developers], IndianExpress.com. Published 2015 September 27. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref>
The rebrand and new Free Basics app also supported secure [[HTTPS]] services, and included privacy language "so that users will know what data will be collected". Users were also given the option on the app or mobile web version to add a number of free services, provided from a list of more than 250 providers.<ref name="opening">[http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/facebook-opens-up-internet-org-with-new-free-basics-apps/ Facebook renames Internet.org as ‘Free Basics’, offers open platform for developers], IndianExpress.com. Published 2015 September 27. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref>
===Related Services===
Facebook also operates a lesser-known project called [[Express Wi-Fi]], which encourages local entrepreneurs to purchase inexpensive hardware and set up public Wi-Fi networks. As of 2016 April, Express Wi-Fi was only available in India, and some critics believe it to be a better and more free solution than Free Basics.<ref name="mashable"></ref> Some also cite one of [[Google]]'s Wi-Fi, which will operate in partnership with Indian Railways and RailTel to bring Wi-Fi to over 100 railways in India by the end of 2016, as competition to Free Basics and Express Wi-Fi.<ref name="mashable"></ref><ref name="googlewifi">[https://googleblog.blogspot.in/2015/09/bringing-the-internet-to-more-indians.html Bringing the Internet to more Indians—starting with 10 million rail passengers a day], Google.com. Published 2015 September 27. Updated 2016 April 25.</ref>
==Availability==
==Availability==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| * '''Africa & Middle East'''
|| '''Africa & Middle East'''
* Angola ([[Movicel]])
* Benin ([[MTN]])
* Cape Verde ([[Unitel]])
* Democratic Republic of the Congo ([[Airtel]], [[Tigo]])
* Gabon ([[Airtel]])
* Ghana ([[Airtel]])
* Guinea ([[Cellcom]])
* Guinea-Bissau ([[MTN]])
* Iraq ([[Korek]])
* Kenya ([[Airtel]])
* Liberia ([[Cellcom]])
* Malawi ([[Airtel & TNM]])
* Mauritania ([[Mauritel]])
* Mozambique ([[Mcel]])
* Niger ([[Airtel]])
* Rwanda ([[Airtel]])
* Senegal ([[Tigo]])
* Seychelles ([[Airtel]])
* South Africa ([[Cell C]])
* Tanzania ([[Tigo]])
* Zambia ([[Airtel]])
||'''Asia Pacific'''
* Bangladesh ([[Grameenphone]] & [[Robi]])
* Cambodia ([[Smart Axiata]])
* Indonesia ([[Indosat]])
* Maldives ([[Ooredoo]])
* Mongolia ([[G-Mobile]], [[Mobicom]] & [[Skytel]])
* Pakistan ([[Telenor & Zong]])
* Philippines ([[Globe & Smart]])
* Thailand ([[DTAC & TrueMove]])
* Timor-Leste ([[Telkomcel]])
* Vanuatu ([[Telecom]])
|| '''Latin America'''
* Bolivia ([[Viva]])
* Colombia ([[Tigo]])
* Guatemala ([[Tigo]])
* Mexico ([[Virgin]])
* Panama ([[Digicel]])
* Peru ([[Entel]])
|}
|}
==Criticisms & Controversies==
==Criticisms & Controversies==
===Net Neutrality===
===Net Neutrality===
Since its launch in 2013, several net neutrality activists have criticized Free Basics for its "zero rating", which is the preferential treatment of certain websites or streaming services, over others. This results in an uneven playing field, and magnifies barriers to access on the Internet. Facebook's initiative does this by providing 'Free Basics', a collection of sites that relay weather, health and local data for users. <ref>[https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Internet.org+criticism Internet.org Criticism. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015.]</ref>
Since its launch in 2013, several net neutrality activists have criticized Free Basics for its "zero rating", which means offering preferential treatment of certain websites or streaming services over others. This main criticism -- that Free Basics had a limited number of partners and only a single service provider -- is one that Faceook has contested. According to Chris Daniels, Vice President of Internet.org, "There is no exclusivity with Reliance in India. There are other telecom operators who are interested, but it seems the criticism has slowed down the conversation. Reliance is just our first partner in India and there are countries where we have multiple partners."<ref name="opening"></ref>
===Access Numbers & First-Time Users===
===Access Numbers & First-Time Users===
Yet a BuzzFeed News survey of the mobile operators that implement Free Basics around the world found that, in multiple markets, Free Basics could be used by local telecoms "as a way to give themselves an edge over competitors... these telecoms view and market Free Basics as an alluring offering for digitally savvy but cash-strapped consumers."<ref name="buzzfeed">[http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolineodonovan/heres-how-free-basics-is-actually-being-sold-around-the-worl#.pejOJbqBQ Here's How Free Basics Is Actually Being Sold Around The World], Buzzfeed.com. Published 2016 January 27. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref> The companies surveyed were not willing to give exact connectivity numbers, but interviews with employees suggested that most subscribers used Free Basics to access Facebook for free or when they ran out of data credits.<ref name="buzzfeed"></ref>
Yet a BuzzFeed News survey of the mobile operators that implement Free Basics around the world found that, in multiple markets, Free Basics could be used by local telecoms "as a way to give themselves an edge over competitors... these telecoms view and market Free Basics as an alluring offering for digitally savvy but cash-strapped consumers."<ref name="buzzfeed">[http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolineodonovan/heres-how-free-basics-is-actually-being-sold-around-the-worl#.pejOJbqBQ Here's How Free Basics Is Actually Being Sold Around The World], Buzzfeed.com. Published 2016 January 27. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref> The companies surveyed were not willing to give exact connectivity numbers, but interviews with employees suggested that most subscribers used Free Basics to access Facebook for free or when they ran out of data credits.<ref name="buzzfeed"></ref>
In fact, according to Antonia Graham, head of [[Digicel]], the Free Basics provider in Panama, paying accounts that run out of data are automatically pushed to the Free Basics webpage. Likewise, an unnamed manager at the [[Korek]] telecommunications in Iraq reveals, "I would say that I have had no customers who are new to the internet who come in asking me about Free Basics... if you ask me, 'Is this program for people who don't have the internet?' my answer is no.”"<ref name="buzzfeed"></ref>
In fact, according to Antonia Graham, head of [[Digicel]], the Free Basics provider in Panama, paying accounts that run out of data are automatically pushed to the Free Basics webpage. Likewise, an unnamed manager at the [[Korek]] telecommunications in Iraq reveals, "I would say that I have had no customers who are new to the internet who come in asking me about Free Basics... if you ask me, 'Is this program for people who don't have the internet?' my answer is no.'"<ref name="buzzfeed"></ref>
===Case Study: India===
===Case Study: India===
Nonetheless, in 2016 February, Free Basics was banned from the cotnyr for "discriminatory tariffs for data services", aka zero rating".<ref name="india">[http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/08/india-bans-zero-rating-internet-schemes/ India bans Facebook's 'Free Basics' service], EnGadget.com. Published 2016 February 8. Retrieved 2016 April 20.</ref> This came after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) called for Reliance Communications, Facebook's Indian telecom partner, to stop Free Basics in 2015 December.
Nonetheless, in 2016 February, Free Basics was banned from the cotnyr for "discriminatory tariffs for data services", aka zero rating".<ref name="india">[http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/08/india-bans-zero-rating-internet-schemes/ India bans Facebook's 'Free Basics' service], EnGadget.com. Published 2016 February 8. Retrieved 2016 April 20.</ref> This came after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) called for Reliance Communications, Facebook's Indian telecom partner, to stop Free Basics in 2015 December.
Following the shutdown, Facebook reportedly spent millions on advertising and had an op-ed published by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the Times of India, entitled "Free Basics Protects Net Neutrality".<ref name="india"></ref><ref name="oped">[http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/free-basics-protects-net-neutrality/ Free Basics Protects Net Neutrality], IndiaTimes.com. Published 2015 December 28. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref>
Following the shutdown, Facebook reportedly spent millions on advertising and had an op-ed published by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the Times of India, entitled "Free Basics Protects Net Neutrality".<ref name="india"></ref><ref name="oped">[http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/free-basics-protects-net-neutrality/ Free Basics Protects Net Neutrality], IndiaTimes.com. Published 2015 December 28. Retrieved 2016 April 23.</ref>