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Facebook has withdrawn the controversial Free Basics services from India following the telecom regulator disallowing differential pricing.
The social media giant had launched the project in India a year ago with the objective of reaching the next billion Internet users.
In May last year, it had launched the service offering free access to 32 apps and websites on Reliance Communications’ network.
RCom users could have accessed these apps and websites without paying for data usage.
Facebook was also in talks with other telecom companies to take the initiative to a larger audience.
Facebook had announced this as part of the Internet.org initiative aimed at connecting the next billion usersto the world wide web.
This had come under severe criticism by supporters of Net neutrality.
According to them, offering free access to select apps and websites violates principles of net neutrality because Facebook was acting as gatekeeper to give preferential treatment to a few websites and apps.
Globally, there are about 19 countries where Facebook has launched free basic services.
But, India is perhaps the most critical market where it has now lost the battle.
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