Wikipedia Zero
 The Wikipedia Zero logo | |
| Affiliations | Wikimedia Foundation Wikipedia |
|---|---|
Wikipedia Zero is a project by the Wikimedia Foundation to provide Wikipedia free of charge on mobile phones, particularly in developing markets.[1][2] The program was launched in 2012,[3] and won a 2013 SXSW Interactive Award for activism.[4] The objective of the program is to reduce barriers in access to free knowledge: in particular with data-usage cost.
Facebook Zero has been cited as an inspiration for Wikipedia Zero.[5]
History
Below is a selective history of launches. For a complete list of participating mobile networks and launch dates, see Wikimedia Foundation: mobile network partners.
- May 2012: Malaysia[6]
- October 2012: Thailand, with dtac; Saudi Arabia with Saudi Telecom Company
- May 2013: Pakistan, with Mobilink[7]
- June 2013: Sri Lanka, with Dialog Axiata[8]
- July 2013: India, with Aircel[9]
- October 2013: Jordan, with Umniah; Bangladesh, with Banglalink[10][11]
- April 2014: Kosovo, on the IPKO network[12]
- May 2014: Nepal, with Ncell[13] and in Kyrgyzstan with Beeline[14]
- October 2014: Ukraine, with Kyivstar[15]
- November 2014: Morocco, with inwi and Maroc Telecom
- December 2014: Ghana, with MTN Ghana[16][17]
- September 2014: Myanmar, with Telenor[18]
Participating mobile networks
See Wikimedia Foundation: mobile network partners.
Reception and impact
The Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones of Chile ruled that zero-rating services like Wikipedia Zero, Facebook Zero, and Google Free Zone, that subsidize mobile data usage, violate net neutrality laws and had to end the practice by June 1, 2014.[19][20] The Electronic Frontier Foundation has said, "Whilst we appreciate the intent behind efforts such as Wikipedia Zero, ultimately zero rated services are a dangerous compromise."[21] Accessnow.org has been more critical, saying, "Wikimedia has always been a champion for open access to information, but it’s crucial to call out zero-rating programs for what they are: Myopic deals that do great damage to the future of the open internet."[22] The Wikimedia Foundation's Gayle Karen Young defended the program to the Washington Post, saying, "We have a complicated relationship to [net neutrality]. We believe in net neutrality in America," while adding that Wikipedia Zero required a different perspective in other countries: "Partnering with telecom companies in the near term, it blurs the net neutrality line in those areas. It fulfills our overall mission, though, which is providing free knowledge."[23]
See also
- Alliance for Affordable Internet
- Facebook Zero
- Google Free Zone
- Internet.org
- Net Neutrality
- Zero-rating Zero Rating / Toll Free Data / Toll Free Apps
References
- ^ Russell, Brandon (February 22, 2013). "Wikipedia Zero Wants to Bring Wikipedia to Mobile Users Without a Data Plan". TechnoBuffalo. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ Wadhwa, Kul Takanao (February 22, 2013). "Getting Wikipedia to the people who need it most". Knight Foundation. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ Sofge, Erik (March 8, 2013). "SXSW: Wikipedia for Non-Smartphones Is Brilliant. Here's Why". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ Riese, Monica (March 12, 2013). "SXSW Interactive Awards Announced". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas: Austin Chronicle Corp. ISSN 1074-0740. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ Dillon, Conon (December 18, 2013). "Wikipedia Zero: free data if you can afford it". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ "Wikipedia Zero launches in Malaysia with Digi — Wikimedia blog". Blog.wikimedia.org. 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
- ^ "Mobilink brings Wikipedia Zero to Pakistan". nation.com.pk. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
- ^ "Dialog brings Wikipedia Zero to Sri Lanka". dialog.lk. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ "Aircel customers can now access Wikipedia on their mobile phones for free". Gadgets.ndtv.com. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
- ^ "Tech Talk | Wikipedia Zero | A righteous initiative for accessing free knowledge". Archive.thedailystar.net. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
- ^ "Banglalink launches Wikipedia Zero :: Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh". Thefinancialexpress-bd.com. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
- ^ "Kosovo's Largest Foreign Investment Sets Tone for Innovation". www.the-american-times.com. Hazlehurst Media SA. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Wikipedia Zero arrives in Nepal via Ncell and you don't have to pay a Paisa to use it". Retrieved 2014-05-19.
- ^ "Beeline открыл бесплатный доступ к Wikipedia для своих абонентов".
- ^ "Абоненти "Київстар" можуть користуватися Wikipedia з нульовим балансом на рахунку". Kyivstar. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
- ^ "MTN Ghana empowers customers with free access to Wikipedia". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "MTN Ghana empowers customers with free access to Wikipedia". myjoyonline.com. Ghana News Agency. 22 December 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "TelenorMyanmar - Free Wikipedia". telenor.com.mm.
- ^ Mirani, Leo (May 30, 2014). "Less than zero – When net neutrality backfires: Chile just killed free access to Wikipedia and Facebook". Quartz. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ McKenzie, Jessica (June 2, 2014). "Face Off in Chile: Net Neutrality v. Human Right to Facebook & Wikipedia". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ "Net Neutrality and the Global Digital Divide". Electronic Frontier Foundation.
- ^ "Blog". accessnow.org.
- ^ "Wikipedia's 'complicated' relationship with net neutrality". Washington Post.
External links
