Egypt shuts down Facebook’s Free Basics ahead of uprising anniversary

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) also voiced its opinion on Wednesday and said the differential pricing violates principles of net neutrality.

Facebook’s partner in Egypt, telecom carrier Etisalat, began providing the Free Basics service two months ago.

“We’re disappointed that Free Basics will no longer be available in Egypt”, said Facebook in an official statement to the Associated Press.

India’s telecom regulator Trai will write back to people who have commented through a template supporting Facebook’s Free Basics project to answer specific questions asked by in the consultation process that precedes rule-making on data pricing.

Although the paper by the Trai has not used the term net neutrality, the idea of zero-rating platforms by telecom companies and other players have stirred up the big debate on the issue.

According to recent reports in media, Facebook is running massive print and TV campaigns in India to change the perception about its “Free Basics” service. Since this limits internet access and provides an advantage to the sites which can be accessed for free, activists in India have been opposing this service stating that it is a threat to net neutrality.

He said the regulator has received only 3.81 lakh comments from people claiming supporters of net neutrality.

This has, therefore, prompted TRAI to extend the deadline of receiving the comments on its Consultation Paper to January 7, instead of December 30 and review of the comments to January 14 from January 7.

It has cited examples of different termination fee charged for SMS of different kinds, Doordarshan channels shown free to viewers and subsidy provided under universal service obligation rules for increasing telecom services access in rural area.

On Monday, the weekday after Christmas, Zuckerberg lashed out against the critics for consistently spreading false claims even if that means leaving behind a billion people that need the internet just as much.

Free Basics has launched in 37 countries so far.

“Mr. Zuckerberg’s ambitions become clear when, in his article, he says Internet.org is open to “all mobile operators” and “as many internet providers” as possible”, an Indian group called SavetheInternet.in argued in a Hindustan Times op-ed.