In a bid to get more users by offering them free internet, Facebook has reportedly started a new program in India, called Express WiFi.
Under Express WiFi, Facebook is offering a software to entrepreneurs and ISPs to sell and provide internet services in rural areas through public WiFi. As per BBC, Facebook has already established 125 rural WiFi Hotspots across India.
This was the second attempt by Facebook to popularize its services through such internet offers. Earlier this year, its Free Basic Program was blocked by the government to support net neutrality.
Facebook is known to have ambitions to counter Google. It has recently started its video services and has introduced live streaming App like that of YouTube Live and Twitter’s Periscope. Google has however a different strategy. Unlike Facebook’s confrontation method, Google has joined hands with Railtel, a government body, to offer WiFi services in railway stations and is planning to cover 100 stations by the end of this year.