Facebook launches Free Basics in Nigeria while Zimbabwe launch still awaits approval

17 May 2016

But beware, just hours Just recently it launched its Free Basics service in Nigeria through a partnership with the country’s third largest operator, Airtel.

Nigeria becomes the 40th country in the world and the latest in Africa to provide the service which offers citizens free access to the internet through a portal that has selected international sites and any other local internet platform that decides to sign up.

According to Internet.org, Nigeria’s Free Basics will offer over 85 services focused on health, finance, job searches and education. Facebook also claims that the service has helped bring over 25 million people online.

Signing up Nigeria for Free Basics is big deal for Facebook. Besides being the most populous country on the continent Nigeria has the highest number of Facebook users in Africa with over 15 million registered subscribers.

It’s no surprise then that the country has been a target for the Free Basics services for a while now, something that was made public late last year when Facebook opened up about a partnership with Airtel.

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