Recently, Facebook launched its Internet.org free basics program in Nigeria which is part of its campaign to help a billion people or so get on the Internet. A laudable and ambitious project but then it must be subject to scrutiny.
Let’s use India as an example, Freebasics launched in India in 2013 and then those committed to protecting Net neutrality started asking key questions about the implications of selecting only a few websites to be on the platform and creating some sort of imbalance in the Indian Eco-system. Fast forward to 2016, The Telecoms Authority of India released a policy known as the Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016 and discouraged the expansion of Freebasics in India.
So, here are a few questions to ask; who approves websites listed on free basics? What is the approval process and is it fair enough? On the other hand, what happens to all subscribers on other networks? Does the local industry players have a say in what happens? These and many more questions will have to answered for the program to be fair to all.
We are of the opinion that Freebasics should be made to be more open and so this is a clarion call to the Nigerian authorities including Lawmakers, Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission and all other relevant agencies to ensure that net neutrality is supported and encouraged with policies as well as ensure that startups have a level playing field to compete and innovate.
