Net Neutrality: Internet.org Opens Platform For Developers

This led to partners like Cleartrip to walk out of the initiative.

India has the world's third largest Internet userbase after China and the US.

Daniels said: "The principles of neutrality must co-exist with programmes like Internet.org that encourage bringing people online."

He added that Internet.org was open for mobile operators as well as developers and there are no financial transactions involved.

Internet.org states that it aims to bring 5 billion people online in partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm. It claims that the platform has made free basic Internet services available to more than 800 million people in nine countries, including India.

"These websites are simple and data efficient, so operators can offer these for free in an economically sustainable way. Because these services have to be specially built to these specifications, we started by offering just a few," Daniels said.

He added that with the opening up of the platform, people will be able to search and use the services that meet these guidelines.

When asked whether Facebook is talking to other telecom operators to join the platform, he said: "I will not say whether we are in discussions or not. We are open to all telecom operators and developers."
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