Meta Shutters Low-Cost Express Wi-Fi Program in Developing Countries

pcmag.com:

Meta this week announced plans to end its Express Wi-Fi program.

Launched in 2016 with the aim of helping connect underserved communities, the platform has allowed mobile and satellite operators to build and grow their Wi-Fi networks, while providing customers in more than 30 countries with reliable internet.

"While we are concluding our work on this program to focus on developing other projects," a Meta Connectivity update said, "we remain committed to working with partners across the telecom ecosystem to deliver better connectivity."

Mark Zuckerberg in 2013 announced that he wanted to connect "the next 5 billion people"—a promise that developed into Free Basics (then called Internet.org), which provides affordable smartphones and access to specific web services. But after its 2015 launch in India, officials cried net neutrality violation and the program was shuttered.

Facebook's follow up, Express Wi-Fi, worked with carriers, ISPs, and entrepreneurs in India, South Africa, and the Philippines to provide internet access via local hotspots. Retailers sold internet access while Facebook parent company Meta gained new customers undoubtedly creating social media accounts.

A recent report by The Wall Street Journal, however, suggests glitches in Meta's free internet services led to unexpected charges by local carriers—often discovered only after users' prepaid plans were completely drained. A company spokesperson told the Journal last week that while "most of the problem" has been fixed, work continues to resolve the issue.

Before sunsetting Express Wi-Fi "later this year," Meta promised to work with partners to "minimize impact to their businesses and their customer's connectivity."

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