Evaluating the impact of zero-rating services: An in-depth look at Facebook's free basics in emerging economies

Abstract

Facebook has partnered with mobile carriers in multiple countries to launch its zero-rated service - Free Basics. Free Basics is a platform which hosts not only Facebook, but other select websites which are zero-rated as well.This Master's thesis evaluates the impact of the Free Basics platform in the countries it has launched. In the process of this research, it has been found that there is a lack of evidence-based research on zero-rated services and Free Basics in particular. This Thesis hopes to fill some of that gaps in the literature, by studying the program in seven countries - Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania.