Facebook’s ‘free basics’ service shut down in Egypt

Cairo : Social networking giant Facebook’s free basics initiative service that provides limited free Internet access was suspended in Egypt after a permit required from the government was not renewed.

According to Reuters, telecom carrier Etisalat Egypt had only been granted a permit to offer the service for two months and the service was suspended after it expired.

Meanwhile, in India, the premier Indian Institute Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have criticised the social networking giant Facebook’s free basics initiative labelling it as “flawed” and “misleading”.

The service was suspended in India last week.

The service, called Free Basics, is part of Facebook’s Internet.org initiative that aims to bring internet access to developing nations.(ANI)