User:Vipul/Google Free Zone

Google Free Zone is an initiative undertaken by Internet company Google in collaboration with mobile phone-based Internet providers, whereby the providers waive data (bandwidth) charges (also known as zero-rate) for accessing select Google products (Google Search, GMail, and Google+).

History
Google Free Zone was announced by Google on November 8, 2012, with a launch in the Philippines in partnership with Globe Telecom, with the experimental round scheduled to run till March 31, 2013.

In June 2013, Google launched Google Free Zone in India in partnership with mobile Internet provider AirTel. In December 2013, AirTel extended Google Free Zone to its services in Nigeria.

Reception and impact
A number of Internet commentators viewed Google Free Zone as both inspired by and a potential competitor to Facebook Zero.