Internet.org, the Facebook-led free broadband project is coming to Europe, according to the social network’s co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The project, which currently supplies basic Internet services to users in Colombia, India, Kenya and Zambia, aims to connect offline communities around the world.
While it’s aimed primarily at developing and emerging markets where resources are scarce or content isn’t available in the local language, Internet.org could turn its attention to plugging not spots in developed nations as well.
Will Facebook use drones to deliver its Internet.org vision?In the Facebook Q&A, user Mihai Huţan queried whether or not Internet.org would ever turn it’s attentions to parts of Europe where Internet access is still spotty.
Zuckerberg said that Internet.org has a part to play anywhere where there were people who needed to be connected, but added that it could be a while before those not spots in Europe get some attention.
“We’re starting off by prioritizing the countries with the most unconnected people and by working with network operators and governments who are most excited about working with Internet.org to get everyone online in their countries,” Zuckerberg added.
The chances of Internet.org coming to the UK are however slim. While there are many locations across the British Isles that remain offline, the BDUK (Broadband Delivery for the UK) scheme set up by the current government aims to make sure every property in the UK can at least get a basic broadband service, allowing for download speeds of 2Mbps at any time of day, by the end of 2015.
The majority of UK political parties have touched on extending the scope of BDUK, albeit in pretty vague terms. Should the ambitions of British politicians fail in this lofty aim, it could be Facebook that comes to the rescue.
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