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I'm a bit wary of Facebook's infrastructure investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.
They just published a report:
https://www.analysysmason.com/contentassets/f8a396952f9c4481982c674724d85356/the-impact-of-facebooks-connectivity-initiatives-in-the-ssa-region---30-june-2020.pdf
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They just published a report:
https://www.analysysmason.com/contentassets/f8a396952f9c4481982c674724d85356/the-impact-of-facebooks-connectivity-initiatives-in-the-ssa-region---30-june-2020.pdf
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Here are the barriers to connectivity - Availability, Affordability, Relevance & Readiness.
In SSA there is a "usage gap" - 46% are covered but not using the internet, compared to 30% of the continent that is still not covered, per the @GSMA.
In SSA there is a "usage gap" - 46% are covered but not using the internet, compared to 30% of the continent that is still not covered, per the @GSMA.
In my view, the coverage gap clearly demonstrates that there ought to be (more) interventions that address Relevance & Readiness.
These two elements fall under "End User" on the value chain, per the Facebook report.
These two elements fall under "End User" on the value chain, per the Facebook report.
Yet, look at where Facebook's investments and initiatives fall on the value chain 
They do address the usage gap through Express Wi-Fi - "boosting service usage by capturing
new users within already covered areas and
increasing their data consumption due to improved
service quality and affordability".
But this only marginally addresses the usage issue
new users within already covered areas and
increasing their data consumption due to improved
service quality and affordability".
But this only marginally addresses the usage issue
This reminds me of a great piece by @benthompson on Jio, and Facebook's connectivity initiatives in India.
https://stratechery.com/2020/facebook-invests-in-jio-platforms-the-building-of-jio-understanding-the-deal/
Facebook wanted to roll out Free Basics "partial Internet" but was blocked by the regulator. Marc Andreessen called it "morally wrong"
https://stratechery.com/2020/facebook-invests-in-jio-platforms-the-building-of-jio-understanding-the-deal/
Facebook wanted to roll out Free Basics "partial Internet" but was blocked by the regulator. Marc Andreessen called it "morally wrong"
By now, we know the story of Jio's huge investment in infrastructure paying off... and crucially, the impact it had for Indian consumers, in gaining access to *all* of the Internet.
And yet, one of Facebook's demand-side initiatives in SSA?
Yep, you guessed it - Free Basics.
Yep, you guessed it - Free Basics.
I don't mean to say, necessarily, that what FB is doing is bad, or that it won't have any positive impact - but at the same time, I don't really think they've earned the benefit of the doubt here either.
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