Mark Zuckerberg opened up on Facebook’s Internet.org initiative and plans to connect the globe

FACEBOOK founder Mark Zuckerberg has opened up about how the social network’s Internet.org initiative plans to bring the world online.

Facebook‘s plans to connect the globe

SINCE its launch in 2013, Facebook’s Internet.org initiative has been working to provide internet access to the globe.

Working with telecommunications giants, the project has been able to provide free access to basic internet services from mobile phones in a number of developing countries.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the initiative could be likened to mobile coverage provided by emergency services.

“The model that we consider this to be most similar to is 911 in the U.S.,” he said.

“Even if you haven’t paid for a phone plan, you can always dial 911 and if there is a crime or a health emergency or a fire, you get basic help.

“We think there should be an equivalent of this for the internet as well.

“Even if you haven’t paid for a data plan, you can get access to basic health information or education or job tools or basic communication tools, and it will vary, country by country.”

Zuckerberg said obtaining advertising on Internet.org was not a pressing issue for the project.

“In a lot of these countries, there isn’t a very big ad market yet. So it’s not that we won’t do it eventually, but (not) for right now and our business,” he said.

“For us, it’s all about enabling people.

“The internet is how we connect to the modern world, but today, unfortunately, only a little more than a third of people have access to the internet at all. It’s about 2.7 billion people, and that means two-thirds of people don’t have any access to the internet. So that seems really off to me.”

Since first rolling out free basic services in Zambia, Zuckerberg said he heard stories of an expectant mother using the internet for the first time to look up information on how care for her newborn and a poultry farmer using Facebook to increase his business.

“It’s pretty crazy,” he said.

The interview, which aired on Bloomberg Television’s Studio 1.0, also touched on drones, lasers and Google.