Facebook ready to beam free internet to remote regions in Kenya

In this March 25, 2015 file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduces the new messenger platform at the F8 summit in San Francisco, California. Facebook is ready to beam free internet to Kenya and Nigeria. PHOTO | AFP 

In Summary

• Together with French based satellite provider Eutelsat, the two firms will accelerate data connectivity in sub-Sahara Africa with a focus on Kenya and Nigeria.
• Telecommunication firms like Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Kenya see its involvement in data as a big threat to their voice and data business.
• Airtel CEO Adil EL Youssefi opines that government must come up with ways of regulating apps like Facebook, Whatsap and Viber since they could be the beginning of the fall of telcos.
• Zuckerberg has lobbied for a campaign that will see United Nations urge governments worldwide to classify internet as a basic human right.

By LILIAN OCHIENG
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Facebook has begun taking steps to beam free high-speed internet to the remote parts of Kenya in a move likely to scare local telecommunications firms.

Together with French based satellite provider Eutelsat, the two firms will accelerate data connectivity in Sub Sahara Africa with a focus on Kenya and Nigeria.

“I am excited to announce our first project to deliver Internet from space as part of our internet.org programme to connect the world,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a statement Tuesday.

INTERNET.ORG

The satellite programme will rely on Facebook’s internet.org platform which has sparked controversies for not reaching its target audience worldwide.

The application allows users to freely access the web for a limited amount of time, but some websites will be blocked.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s excitement over Kenya which has 2.2 million people active on the site daily might not last long.

LOCAL TELCOS AFRAID

Telecommunication firms like Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Kenya see its involvement in data as a big threat to their voice and data business.

Airtel CEO Adil EL Youssefi opines that government must come up with ways of regulating apps like Facebook, Whatsap and Viber since they could be the beginning of the fall of telcos.

This is because they offer similar services but ride on infrastructure deployed by local telcos.

Facebook plans to bring its satellite services to Kenya and other targeted countries by mid-2016.

The connectivity is powerful and connects users beyond range of fixed and mobile terrestrial networks.

HUMAN RIGHT

Zuckerberg has lobbied for a campaign that will see United Nations urge governments worldwide to classify internet as a basic human right

Facebook had begun a call to partner with telcos in its internet.org initiative but local firms remained mute on the subject.

This followed worldwide criticism with nearly 70 advocacy groups writing to Zuckerberg arguing that the platform violates international set standards on the Internet and is insecure.