India’s Internet Regulator Puts Facebook’s ‘Free Basics’ Program on Hold
Facebook’s plan to provide limited Internet services for free in India has run into a roadblock, with the country’s top Internet regulatory body requesting its local partner to temporarily suspend the program.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) asked Reliance Communications to cease providing Facebook’s Free Basics program to its customers until further notice, the Times of India reported on Wednesday.
Free Basics, part of Facebook’s Internet.org initiative to bring underprivileged citizens of developing countries online, provides certain free web-based services to subscribers of Reliance — its telecom partner in India.
However, it has become controversial in the South Asian nation — the social-media giant’s largest user base after the U.S. — where critics say it violates net neutrality, the principle that prevents Internet providers from favoring particular websites or services.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) asked Reliance Communications to cease providing Facebook’s Free Basics program to its customers until further notice, the Times of India reported on Wednesday.
Free Basics, part of Facebook’s Internet.org initiative to bring underprivileged citizens of developing countries online, provides certain free web-based services to subscribers of Reliance — its telecom partner in India.
However, it has become controversial in the South Asian nation — the social-media giant’s largest user base after the U.S. — where critics say it violates net neutrality, the principle that prevents Internet providers from favoring particular websites or services.
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