Facebook to push ahead with internet.org in India

Facebook on Thursday said it will not pull out its controversial zero-rated platform internet.org from India despite widespread criticism that the web initiative favoured the social media giant and provided access only to select applications.

Facebook, which is planning to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US, is reported to be pushing ahead with plans to open up internet.org further to newer telecom operators.

Critics say Facebook has overlooked all criticism of violating the principle of net neutrality and still claims its intention is to provide internet access to the unconnected. Internet.org is open to all developers, but on Facebook's terms.

''Facebook internet.org does not violate the principles of net neutrality, especially as it offers an opportunity to all developers if they provide lighter versions that use limited bandwidth, ''Kevin Martin, vice-president for Facebook's Mobile and Global Access Policy, was quoted as saying.

Martin, who has earlier served as the chairman of the high-profile Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the US, said that Facebook has no plan to withdraw internet.org from India.

''This programme is not exclusive and is open to all operators. We are trying to work with others, and are anxious to work with them,'' The Times of India quoted Martin as saying.

He also said that operators who owned the telecom infrastructure should not be able to limit where people want to go on the internet.

A committee appointed by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to go into the possible infringement of net neutrality by Facebook's internet.org had, in May this year, had opposed Facebook's internet.org initiative, saying, it favoured the social media giant and provided access only to select applications.

The neutrality debate heated up in India after telecom operator Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access of some websites on it network. However, the companies were asked to pay Airtel for joining the platform.

Internet.org is a Facebook-led online initiative in partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm and mobile operators. In India, it had tied up with Reliance Communications.