Facebook’s Free Basics program shut down in Egypt on Dec 30, 2015

The program, launched in around three dozen developing countries, offers pared-down web services on mobile phones, along with access to Facebook’s own social network and messaging services, without charge.

While Free Basics is now on ice in Egypt and India, the program could make a comeback after regulators in each country have a chance to examine it. While Free Basics toes the line with net neutrality, it is hard to argue the benefits of bringing more people to the modern age, making the issue a worthwhile discussion for each nation in the program. The move comes amid growing debate over whether the service, which critics say would create a “walled garden” prioritizing some websites over others, violates the principles of net neutrality.

Internet activists and experts flayed the operator for “Airtel Zero” service along with Facebook’s internet.org service, now renamed “Free Basics”. Of those 3 million, Facebook says 1 million received access to the internet for the very first time.

While the reason behind Egypt’s ban is still unclear, it more than likely has to do with the criticisms concerning Free Basics and net neutrality.

In a letter drafted to the government watchdog Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, nine heads of startups including Paytm and Zomato urged the TRAI to ensure that Internet access was allowed but without differential pricing.

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.

Not satisfied with such “invalid” answers, TRAI has now made a decision to ask such respondents (who sent comments on Free Basics) to send comments on specific questions pertaining to differential pertaining, rather than supporting “Free Basics”.

The executives said in the letter, dated Tuesday, that differential pricing for Internet access would lead to a “few players like Facebook with its Free Basics platform acting as gate-keepers”.

Sharma said TRAI has received 18.27 lakh comments till now, out of which 14.34 lakh were in support of Free Basics and the comments did not answer the questions asked by the regulator.