[governance] [bestbits] The unintended consequences of Free Basics campaign in India

[Chris Prince Udochukwu Njoku]

Hi, colleagues,
Deirdre's thoughts are in order. Incidentally, the cheapest phone today
(maybe in Nigeria only) accesses Web pages. Many of them come with Facebook
pre-installed, and once you insert and activate a SIM card, the telecom
service provider (telco) usually automatically sends configuration info to
enable browsing.

Facebook succeeded in partnering with several telcos in Nigeria to allow
phone users to access Facebook at no charge other than the user has some
credits to make calls with the phone. Below is one SMS from one telco to
all its customers in this regard:
"FREE FACEBOOK Dial*206*00# for messaging status update wall posts!...Click
http://u2o.in/APP2U.72.BCBCBC"

As Mwendwa remarked, data charges are coming low in some countries. This is
one result of competition, which we want governments to increase through
policies that encourage emergence of more telcos. Telcos in Nigeria give an
average of 15MB for 100 Nigerian Naira (below 50cents) at present. Though
this is still out of many people's reach, many other people have been
connected through it.

Best,
CPU

___________________________________
Sent from Magnum 7X smartphone
Envoyé de smartphone Magnum 7X
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