Mark Zuckerberg is 'disappointed' at India Free Basics ban and vows to fight on

Facebook was dealt a blow today when its Free Basics program was banned in India for contravening net neutrality rules. As you would expect, Mark Zuckerberg is more than a little disappointed, but the Facebook founder says he remains "committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world".

In a somewhat bitter-sounding post on Facebook, Zuckerberg reiterated his belief that "everyone in the world should have access to the internet". But as well as hitting out at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), he also says he wants to keep driving to connect the whole of India to the internet to "help lift people out of poverty, create millions of jobs and spread education opportunities".

The post is not just Mark Zuckerberg taking a swipe at TRAI, he also took it as an opportunity to answer questions from people and to clear up some misconceptions about Free Basics. In response to suggestions that the program should allow for unrestricted access to the internet, he said: "Free Basics isn't limited to Facebook. It's an open platform and any developer can build services for it".

But the real purpose of the post was to express disappointment at the ruling

Today India's telecom regulator decided to restrict programs that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org's initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programs by other organizations that provide free access to data.

While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet.

It's certain that Free Basics will continue to come in for criticism, but Zuckerberg is a man on a mission. He's going to keep plugging away and plugging away, but whether he ends up being successful -- or if compromises have to be made -- is something that only time will tell.

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