Digital Equality in India?

[BigTL13Participant 89]

So this morning I logged in to my facebook page and found a notification asking me to support “Digital Equality” in India. I’ve had a read of the page, and here’s what it says about the Campaign “Free Basics”

Free Basics gives people access to vital services, such as communication, healthcare, education, job listings and farming information – all without data charges. It helps those who can’t afford to pay for data, or who need a little help with getting started online. And it’s open to all people, developers and mobile networks.
However, Free Basics is in danger in India. A small, vocal group of critics are lobbying to have Free Basics banned on the basis of net neutrality. Instead of giving people access to some basic Internet services for free, they demand that people pay equally to access all Internet services, even if that means 1 billion people can’t afford to access any services.
The TRAI is holding a public debate that will affect whether free basic Internet services can be offered in India. Your voice is important for the 1 billion Indian people who are not yet connected and don’t have a voice on the Internet.
Unless you take action now, India could lose access to free basic Internet services, delaying progress towards digital equality for all Indians. Tell the TRAI that you support Free Basics and digital equality in India.

From looking at this, I’m calling this as a Bandwagon (Normally anything to do with Social Equality is), and I very much agree with those who are saying that Facebook is planning to monopolize India. So what do you guys think?

Get the Fuck Up, Brush yourself off, and stand against the current

[AttonParticipant]

Computer Hardware and Digital Goods are a luxury and often depending on the hardware inexpensive. Their might be a case for insulin pumps for diabetics but free internet sounds kind of useless and more for entertainment.

A MGTOW is a man who is not a woman's bitch!

[sidecarParticipant 35837]

BigTL13 wrote:

1 billion people can’t afford to access any services.

With a potential market of one billion people, someone will work out a business model to supply it. Hell, Indians are sharp people; the market will probably work out a way to supply itself (mesh networks, wireless ptp trunks etc.) But make it “free” like that and you guarantee they will only ever get the bare minimum and the cost of all that regulation and filtering will be passed on to paying customers as the carriers waste money on dealing with government instead of investing it in infrastructure.

[Author]

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