Mark Zuckerberg gave a keynote at Mobile World Congress 2015 to provide an update on Internet.org and discuss Facebook's efforts to expand internet access globally. He explained that Internet.org's goal is to connect the two thirds of the world without internet access by partnering with tech companies and operators. Zuckerberg also discussed examples of how increased connectivity has helped rural communities form thriving economies and described partnerships with Google to provide internet access in places like Zambia. However, he emphasized that Facebook's role is to facilitate connectivity rather than operate as a carrier themselves.

1. MARK
ZUCKERBERG
@MWC
2015

2. M A R K Z U C K E R B E R G @ MW C 2 0 1 5
LAST YEAR was a big year for Facebook at Mobile
World Congress. Mark Zuckerberg shared his plans for
Internet.org and talked about Facebook’s acquisition
of Whatsapp, the mobile messaging platform.
If you didn’t know, Internet.org is an initiative by Facebook
that brings together social, tech leaders, nonprofits, and
emerging communities to bring the internet to the two
thirds of the world that doesn’t have data access.
This year, Zuckerberg gave an inside look on
the progress and learnings of Internet.org.

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1
CONNECTING PEOPLE
FIRST AND FOREMOST
FACEBOOK HELPS facilitate the process of people
connecting with other people. And that’s the inspiration
behind Internet.org. By working with operators and tech
leaders, Facebook is enables people to have access to
each other. That access lets folks talk to the ones
you love, get educated, and find jobs. It gives
businesses the tools to connect to their
loyal consumers. The power in connecting
people to people is far greater than any
broadband or wifi connection out there.

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2
IF YOU BUILD IT...
ZUCKERBERG TOUCHED on the power of connecting people by
sharing a story of his travels and, particularly, a stop in Jakarta,
where a “cyber village” was created. Citizens of a rural area outside
the city rallied around their government to get connectivity. An
internet hub was created and, over a period of time, people
from the rural area gravitated towards and created
a small town and community around this data
access point. More towns sprang up too as
more and more internet connectivity was
brought to the area. It created small, thriving
economies that hadn’t existed before.

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3
BRING IT GOOGLE
ZUCKERBERG WAS ASKED if he and his company would ever
work directly with Google to strengthen their efforts to bring people
online. The answer? Yes. And they’ve already created partnerships
through Internet.org and brought access to Google Search in
Zambia. Zuckerberg addressed that the media likes to paint a war
of empires amongst the companies. In reality, 90% of people on
Earth live within range of a data network. They just
don’t have the means to access the internet,
which Internet.org helps solve. The war of
blimps, satellites, and lasers all claiming to be
the first to beam internet access across the
world is mostly just an overzealous media.

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WE’RE NOT AN OPERATOR
ZUCKERBERG MADE IT VERY CLEAR that they’re not in the
carrier/operator business. They’re a social company at the core,
leading developing countries and cities to gain access to data
via other operator and tech partner relationships. Operators will
and have to evolve. And they are. They’ve gone from business
operators who provide voice and messaging to data
and services. Operators need the right regulatory
environments to achieve their goals and far too
many times do they get left out of current
regulatory actions or business models that help
other small businesses achieve their goals.

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5 FACEBOOK DRIVES
DATA USAGE
IF YOU ASK YOURSELF how much data you’re consuming
by just using your Facebook app alone, chances are you have
no idea. For a lot of people in developing markets, it’s an
onboarding process to get exposed to the internet. For them,
the first time they really use data is texting or voice messaging,
so they buy a plan for that. As they wish to stay in
contact on the regular, that’s when Facebook
kicks in as the social media to provide this
real-time, always-on social coverage. And
from there, the new users are adding data or
buying data on their operating plans. And
thus developing a marketing framework.

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But wait a second! Are you raising an eyebrow too? These are
people in developing countries, where every penny counts. Data is
expensive. Is this the right model? Is data that valuable in protecting
our social relationships? There is still a lot of of work Internet.
org is doing. Let’s just hope everyone is in it for the right gain, and
not counting so heavily on the revenue building that comes as a
result of getting new users to purchase data plans.