In a bid to empower more African users with increased access to information through technology, Facebook has officially launched Freebasics site (formerly Internet.org) in Rwanda. The site will serve as a gateway to free sites, including Facebook, presented in the local dialect Kinyarwanda.
The launch of FreeBasics was done in partnership with Airtel Rwanda and the country's Ministry of Youth and ICT.
Speaking at the launch in Kigali, Rwanda during the Transform Africa session hosted at the FTTH Council Conference 2015, Ebele Okobi, Head of Public Policy for Facebook Africa, reiterated the social network's commitment to provide free access to information through the internet.
"We believe that affordable access to the internet, is life changing and critical. It connects people to those they love, it creates opportunity for education, it brings government closer to its citizens and increases economic opportunity," Okobi said.
"Freebasics allows Rwandans to access Facebook and other websites like Inyarwanda.com," she added.
Tano Oware from Airtel said that, "Rwandans on Airtel network will now be able to browse Facebook and other sites at no cost."
Oware said that his team at Airtel is also offering Rwandans low cost internet enabled phones to have them connected.
Freebasics platform aims to give access to popular and general information from over 30 sites without broadband cost to the user.
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