4 ms·

Keeping marketing or financial problems aside. What are the technical difficulties that Facebook would face when providing access to the whole web rather that s

Keeping marketing or financial problems aside. What are the technical difficulties that Facebook would face when providing access to the whole web rather that some specific website? Data from Facebook or Wikipedia is same as the data from any other website. They will need the same infrastructure. What am I missing here?

firasd 11y ago
I think network operators around the world are receptive to ‘zero-rating’ certain websites (which is all Free Basics really is) whereas making free data available with a usage cap or speed cap would be something new. Facebook is not actually providing access or building infrastructure (under this program), they are teaming up with ISPs.
- l1feh4ck 11y ago
  Some one have to pay the ISP for the service they are providing. Suppose that Facebook is providing access to all websites in free basics. Where is the business model in that. How can Facebook profit from that? May be what Facebook is saying is right: “We are not against net neutrality”, but there is no way on earth that they could provide such service for free. What are they suppose to do? Give people free access to whole web assuming that out of their good heart they will use Facebook? Note: I am not supporting Facebook.
  - firasd 11y ago
    If internet.org is about Free Facebook, they should at least drop the veneer of philanthropy. Argue in favor of zero-rating with everyone else who wants to cut these deals. In the end such exceptions will be a disaster for the tech industry: if Netflix is available without data charges why would you ever use a competitor? If you can do Bing searches for free why would you Google and pay more? Plus it's a regulatory issue (mobile networks are licensed to provide internet, not specific services) and potentially a consumer-protection/anti-trust issue.

4 ms·

Keeping marketing or financial problems aside. What are the technical difficulties that Facebook would face when providing access to the whole web rather that s

by l1feh4ck 11y ago

firasd 11y ago
I think network operators around the world are receptive to ‘zero-rating’ certain websites (which is all Free Basics really is) whereas making free data available with a usage cap or speed cap would be something new. Facebook is not actually providing access or building infrastructure (under this program), they are teaming up with ISPs.
- l1feh4ck 11y ago
  Some one have to pay the ISP for the service they are providing. Suppose that Facebook is providing access to all websites in free basics. Where is the business model in that. How can Facebook profit from that? May be what Facebook is saying is right: “We are not against net neutrality”, but there is no way on earth that they could provide such service for free. What are they suppose to do? Give people free access to whole web assuming that out of their good heart they will use Facebook? Note: I am not supporting Facebook.
  - firasd 11y ago
    If internet.org is about Free Facebook, they should at least drop the veneer of philanthropy. Argue in favor of zero-rating with everyone else who wants to cut these deals. In the end such exceptions will be a disaster for the tech industry: if Netflix is available without data charges why would you ever use a competitor? If you can do Bing searches for free why would you Google and pay more? Plus it's a regulatory issue (mobile networks are licensed to provide internet, not specific services) and potentially a consumer-protection/anti-trust issue.