Cell C brings Facebook's Internet.org to SA

Cell C is making it more affordable for its subscribers to share their lives, says CEO Jose dos Santos.

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Building on its strategy to embrace over-the-top players, Cell C is now offering promotional zero-rated access to Facebook.

In addition, Cell C and Facebook are partnering to bring free Internet access to consumers through the launch of Facebook's initiative, Internet.org, in South Africa.

From 1 July, Facebook use will be free to all existing and new postpaid, top-up and prepaid customers, and will continue until 31 August. Cell C's partnership with Internet.org will allow its subscribers to keep using Facebook via Internet.org for a year after the Facebook promotion runs out.

Internet.org is a non-profit organisation, with backers including Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Qualcomm and Opera Software. The initiative aims to make basic Internet services available to the two-thirds of the world's population not yet connected and is available in Africa in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

"We were the first and only mobile player in SA to offer zero-rated access to WhatsApp and now we are building on that with this Facebook offering," says Cell C CEO Jose dos Santos. "Facebook is one of the most popular services used by our customers, and this offering will make it more affordable for them to share their lives with those closest to them."

Customers will be able to use Messenger, post comments and pictures, view and share posts and pictures, and view News Feed and profiles at no charge. Breakout Internet browsing, voice over IP calling, Facebook videos, YouTube and Instagram will be charged at standard data rates or will deplete available data bundles. Customers will also have the option to buy Cell C data bundles while on Facebook or Internet.org.

Postpaid and top-up customers will automatically get free access to Facebook and Internet.org, while prepaid customers need to ensure they recharge once every 30 days to show they are active on the network, explains Cell C.

From 1 September, for a year, customers who want to continue using Facebook and its messenger service for free can do so by accessing Facebook through the Internet.org app.

During the 12-month period, all the sites available through Internet.org on the Cell C network will remain free when accessing links through the application. The sites available are: