3 ms·

So I just created an HN account to answer this. I'm in Accra, Ghana. > Mind if I ask how you usually access HN? My PC, with WiFi at home. > Do you know anyon

So I just created an HN account to answer this. I'm in Accra, Ghana. > Mind if I ask how you usually access HN? My PC, with WiFi at home. > Do you know anyone who would consider something like free basic? I would. Already, mobile networks have Facebook and Wikipedia (iirc) zero-rated. Meaning you pay nothing to use those services. My startup is trying to get zero-rating on Vodafone to encourage our customers to use our service. Having free access to some useful sites is a plus. Having my Internet restricted to those sites is a minus.

tdaltonc 11y ago
Thanks! What is the process of getting zero-rating like? Are you glad that zero rating exists in your market?
- thebenedict 11y ago
  American in TZ here. I'm skeptical of FB motives but the Free Basics user experience is undeniably good -- it just works. I put up a few screenshots from Free Basics on Tigo Tanzania in a recent blog post (link in profile).
- wsgeorge 11y ago
  > What is the process of getting zero-rating like? I don't know. As far as I can tell (what we're doing) we're speaking to the telcos directly. There's no formal process for getting zero-rating. We have an investor/incubator relationship with Vodafone Ghana. Zero-rating our service is just one of the things we're negotiating. > Are you glad that zero rating exists in your market? Uhh...I should put my current feelings in context. I didn't care much 2-3yrs ago because these were marketed as carrier promos, and telcos in Ghana have a bad reputation already. It was none of my business until word went round that MTN (the largest in Ghana, huge across Africa) will start charging special rates for using certain apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, the usual. The response in our small tech community was mixed. A lot of people I asked weren't aware, but there few that were, were truly outraged. I didn't follow the news but it seemed other telcos started moving in that direction, then backed down. All the while, 0.facebook.com was still promoted on billboards in Accra. So it's two things: you can get useful services for free (so you remain subscribed to the network, I guess) or you can be charged specially for using a service that really matters. My feelings are mixed at this point but I'd much rather prefer a neutral net than one that can favour or penalize services. That leaves an uncomfortable room for abuse.

tdaltonc 11y ago

Thanks! What is the process of getting zero-rating like? Are you glad that zero rating exists in your market?

thebenedict 11y ago
American in TZ here. I'm skeptical of FB motives but the Free Basics user experience is undeniably good -- it just works. I put up a few screenshots from Free Basics on Tigo Tanzania in a recent blog post (link in profile).
wsgeorge 11y ago
> What is the process of getting zero-rating like? I don't know. As far as I can tell (what we're doing) we're speaking to the telcos directly. There's no formal process for getting zero-rating. We have an investor/incubator relationship with Vodafone Ghana. Zero-rating our service is just one of the things we're negotiating. > Are you glad that zero rating exists in your market? Uhh...I should put my current feelings in context. I didn't care much 2-3yrs ago because these were marketed as carrier promos, and telcos in Ghana have a bad reputation already. It was none of my business until word went round that MTN (the largest in Ghana, huge across Africa) will start charging special rates for using certain apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, the usual. The response in our small tech community was mixed. A lot of people I asked weren't aware, but there few that were, were truly outraged. I didn't follow the news but it seemed other telcos started moving in that direction, then backed down. All the while, 0.facebook.com was still promoted on billboards in Accra. So it's two things: you can get useful services for free (so you remain subscribed to the network, I guess) or you can be charged specially for using a service that really matters. My feelings are mixed at this point but I'd much rather prefer a neutral net than one that can favour or penalize services. That leaves an uncomfortable room for abuse.