Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in Colombia on Wednesday to launch a mobile phone application that allows free Internet access to a number of websites via the company's Internet.org initiative, according to Reuters.
The app is a tool in Facebook Inc's efforts to improve Internet usage in developing markets. Colombia is the first Latin American country where Internet.org has been made available.
The 30-year-old Facebook founder said the service will help Colombians "build their own prosperity."
"By giving people these basic tools for free, you're creating an equal playing field," Zuckerberg said, addressing entrepreneurs who could take advantage of the free Internet as they develop their own businesses.
The service may even be used by Colombians, among whom 21 million are Facebook users, to deal with the country's Marxist rebels, the CEO said.
"Just giving people the tools of connectivity is important by itself in creating communication and a tighter social fabric in creating peace," Zuckerberg said.
In the four years that the Facebook's effort to enhance Internet connectivity among the world's citizens, it has tied up with more than 150 wireless providers. Its partner in Colombia is local mobile phone company Tigo.
Facebook aims to spread the Internet.org service across Latin America, starting with Colombia.
During the launch, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was present to listen to Zuckerberg's presentation of the service.
"Our obsession is how we can use technology to reach our big goals, first peac, which will allow us more equality and better education," Santos said.
Via the service, Colombians can gain free access to more than a dozen websites, including Wikipedia, a number of weather websites, job listings, as well as health info websites, in addition to Facebook's own social network and its messenger.
Internet.org is also available in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, according to Yahoo News.