Tigo has revealed that it is teaming up with Facebook to provide
millions of Tanzanians with affordable Internet and free access to some
basic online services through the Internet.org app.
The Internet.org app will be available on October 29, and Tigo
subscribers will have access to: AccuWeather; BabyCenter & MAMA; BBC
News & BBC Swahili; BrighterMonday; The Citizen; Facebook; Facts
for Life (a UNICEF Product); Girl Effect; Messenger; Mwananchi;
Mwanaspoti; OLX; Shule Direct; SuperSport; Tanzania Today and
Wikipedia.Commenting on the launch of the service today, David Zacharia,
Tigo’s Head of Data and Devices said, “Through our partnership with
Facebook we aim to increase digital inclusion by encouraging even more
Tanzanians to go online.”
Zacharia further said this extended partnership by Tigo and Facebook
would not only accelerate internet penetration in the country but would
also open new socio-economic opportunities to the users in the fields of
education, technology, and commerce.
A recent report by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
(TCRA) shows that the number of internet users in Tanzania has increased
from 7.5 million in 2012 to 9.3 million by June 2014 – equivalent to
18% penetration.
Tigo, through its owner Millicom, has worked with Facebook in both Tanzania and Paraguay to offer free access to Facebook.
“Today we are expanding our program with Tigo in Tanzania beyond just
free Facebook to include access to a suite of basic services in health,
education, communication, finance, jobs and local information. By
providing more people with affordable access to technology and tools we
can accelerate the process of connecting everyone,” said Andrew Bocking,
Product Manager, Internet.org, Facebook.
Tigo customers in Tanzania can access the Internet.org app through the Google Play Store, by visiting www.internet.org
on a mobile browser, via the Tigo portal, and through a bookmark on
Opera Mini. The service works on smartphones and feature phones.
Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative with the goal of making
affordable internet access available to the two thirds of the world who
are not yet connected and to bring the same opportunities to everyone
that the connected third of the world has today.
Facebook’s Internet.org app makes the internet more accessible
through a set of free basic services – enabling people to browse useful
content and websites without incurring data charges.
Source: www.itnewsafrica.com
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