World’s biggest social network Facebook wants to
connect more people to Internet in India which
accounts for the third largest online user base globally
after China and the US but has a very low Internet
penetration growth rate.
On his first visit to India, Facebook CEO and co-founder
Mark Zuckerberg today met Telecom Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad to discuss expanding reach of Internet
including by using alternate technology.
After an about hour long meeting, Prasad told reporters
that meeting was fruitful and Facebook has shown
interest in joining Digital India programme of India.
“Connecting more than a billion people with Internet is
not only going to improve lives of people in India but
helping innovation and imagination of Indian people
will help turn around the world and we are very
excited in opportunities in India,” Zuckerberg said.
According to sources, Facebook requested Prasad to
establish single point contact in his ministry for the
alternate technology to which the minister immediately
agreed.
“We have dedicated some officials from my ministry to
work closely with Facebook on their proposals to
expand digital services in the country,” Prasad said.
A ministry official said Joint Secretary Telecom and
Joint Secretary IT will be single point contact for
Facebook for their projects so that the modalities
related to their alternate technology is expeditiously
worked out.
Facebook is also in process to launch applications on
utility services for which customer may not have to pay
any Internet charges as the company is doing in
Zambia in partnership with Indian telecom major
Airtel.
“Zuckerberg said that they are almost ready to launch
service as they have done in Zambia with Airtel.
Minister has assured them of full support,” the official
said.
Prasad has asked Facebook CEO to partner in National
Optical Fibre Network program which aim to connect
2.5 lakh village panchayats by high speed broadband
by 2017 to which Zuckerberg has agreed.
“Minister asked them to play role in retailing of
broadband services once NOFN is ready. They have
said that they will build business with new
entrepreneurs in the country,” the official said.
Facebook in India has over 100 million active users.
The company recently acquired mobile messaging
application WhatsApp which adds to its reach in the
country.
No comments:
Post a Comment