MANILA – Philippine startups and developers were recently called to push for global digital inclusion by providing free access to basic internet services to millions of people worldwide through Facebook’s Free Basics powered by Globe.
Free Basics is the new name of Internet.org, a rebrand which took place late September. It’s essentially a set of basic websites and services to introduce people to the value of the internet. Websites do not pay to be included, and operators don’t charge developers for the data people use for their services.
Globe, through its venture capital subsidiary Kickstart Ventures, Inc., recently brought Facebook’s Free Basics closer to Philippine developer and startup communities , encouraging them to develop locally relevant and useful services for Filipinos through the Free Basics platform.
To date, there are more than 60 services available across the 19 countries where Free Basics are available.
Jackie Chang, Product Partnerships Manager, Facebook, spoke to over 150 members of the Philippine startup community at the Raid The Fridge event hosted by Kickstart.
“We’re here to support local developers create locally relevant services and content that will make a real impact in people’s lives. This is an opportunity for the developer community in the Philippines to scale their products and bring the benefits of the internet to more Filipinos,” said Chang.
Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Group Daniel Horan is equally excited. “Globe continues to share with Facebook the common goal of expanding the digital lifestyle and make it more inclusive.”
“By opening Free Basics to developers and entrepreneurs, we see more opportunities to bring more Filipinos online and to benefit from the free basic services offered. With this collaboration, Globe and Kickstart aim to bring more developers and services to the platform,” he adds.
He said that the Globe-Free Basics partnership would serve as the company’s impetus to drive existing business models, launch new and exciting offers and make mobile internet more accessible within a safe browsing environment for Globe customers, without having to worry about unexpected data charges.
PHOTO: Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Daniel Horan, Growth & Partnerships Manager, Facebook Dikshant Chopra, Lily Lyman and Product Partnerships Manager, Facebook Jackie Chang, and Kickstart VP and Head of Community Engagement Christian Besler at the Kickstart Raid the Fridge event.
