From the visit to Andela, his $24 million backed investment in Lagos to his time at BRCK’s in Kenya, Mark Zuckerberg’s recent visit to Africa came with a lot of fanfare.
In recent times, technology adoption has been on the rise in Africa, and several tech startups have attracted millions of dollars in venture investments. The influx of cheap smartphones and mobile broadband connections has increased internet access in Africa. According to GSMA, an additional 400 million new smartphone connections would be added by 2020. Internet connectivity has enabled increased participation of Africans on the internet.
Facebook users in Africa are estimated at 124 million people. Africa has 333 million internet users. Facebook has a penetration rate of about 37 percent. With Africa’s total population estimated at 1.185 billion, her internetless population presents a huge potential for Facebook to grow within the continent. Facebook recognizes this and has taken a strategic approach to increasing the net number of users in Africa.
In Nigeria, Facebook launched Free Basics. Free Basics includes low-data versions of Facebook and other services from independent developers submitted to Facebook for review. In collaboration with Airtel – Nigeria’s second largest mobile provider, Facebook launched 80 pre-selected websites. Nigeria is the seventh largest country worldwide with over 86 million internet users. Zuckerberg said Facebook was offering Nigerians, including 90 million people who are currently offline, the opportunity to access news, health information and services for free.
Before now, Free Basics campaign was in India. The aim of the campaign was to bring India’s 1 billion unconnected population online. Zuckerberg’s aggressive campaign in India included meeting with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, publishing an opinion piece in The Times of India, and changing his Facebook profile picture to support digital India.
The Facebook Free Basics campaign in India came to a halt in February 2016. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India prohibited zero-rated initiatives. It was cancelled on the basis of net neutrality. Net neutrality is a principle that means Internet service providers should provide users with open networks and should not block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks.
Some critics regarded the scheme as a tool for exploiting the poor masses in India. In his defence of Free Basics Zuckerberg said, “We know that connecting them can help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities. We care about these people, and that’s why we’re so committed to connecting them.” Last December, Zuckerberg said Free Basics had already brought 15 million users online; one million came from India.
Facebook Free Basics initiative is available in 42 countries, half of them from Africa. Facebook has also had its fair share of criticism in Africa. Gbenga Sesan, founder, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, said that it is problematic to give people only part access to the internet, especially if they believe what they have is full access. The Egyptian government blocked Free Basics in Egypt for security disagreements.
“The future will be built by Africa”, Zuckerberg said in Nigeria. Intentions for Facebook’s growth strategy in Africa are not fully known yet. However, we know that the social media company would take advantage of Africa’s young and vibrant population to hit its next billion users.
Source: venturesafrica.com
