Facebook has introduced a new app in Africa that will provide free data access to sites like Wikipedia, Google, Facebook and Facebook Messenger. This initiative is apart of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's Internet.org effort, whose main goal is to bring Internet access to developing countries.
Accessing the information included in the app will be free of charge. However, links to other websites will require that a fee be paid. Also, the free version of Facebook in the app will not allow video playback.
"Right now, only 15% of people in Zambia have access to the Internet," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. "Soon, everyone will be able to use the Internet for free to find jobs, get help with reproductive health and other aspects of health, and use tools like Facebook to stay connected with the people they love."
"This is a big step forward in achieving the mission of Facebook and Internet.org."
Facebook Connectivity lab has worked on bettering the Internet access issue, coming up with ideas like drones, satellites and lasers to provide Wi-Fi. In March, Facebook acquired U.K.-based Ascenta, a team that worked on the longest-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft.
The app will be available to Airtel subscribers in Zambia. Facebook is looking to bring it to other developing countries around the world.
"We believe that every person should have access to free basic Internet services - tools for health, education, jobs and basic communication," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a Thursday post.
The company worked with mobile operators over the last year to make the effort happen. The company's Internet.org initiative has brought help to 3 million across the Internet.
Only 15 percent of the people in Zambia have Internet. This initiative may boost the size of Facebook's current audience of 1.32 billion monthly users.
