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Facebook’s Aspiring 5 Billion User Mark Hit by a Setback

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Feb 19, 2016 12:15 PM EST

Facebook is one of the most impressive financial and product success that we can think of in the recent times. On its 12th Birthday, the company unveiled an even bigger plan, that is to reach 5 Billion users by 2030. However, soon after this ambitious goal was released by the company, Facebook ended up in a row with one of the most promising markets out there.

As per many reports, Internet.org propounded by Facebook was discarded by India's telecommunications regulator, leaving Facebook's Free Basics service open for criticism. Although this service is already operational in 38 countries across Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific region, it has been sharply criticized by the consumers and regulators that companies offering limited services and the social media giant are paying to place themselves ahead of other players, something that most internet companies cannot afford to do, reported The Motley Fool

For Facebook to reach its ambitious goal of 5 Billion users, they have to ensure that more number of people are connected to the internet. As a result, Facebook introduced initiatives to bring internet to more people. As altruistic as these efforts may seem, it is unlikely that the company would go through all the trouble unless they were getting something in return for it. This is where the whole net neutrality debate comes into play, says Buzz News

Due to Facebook's failed Free Basics effort in India, their plans to reach 5 Billion users by 2030 has suffered a major hit. With only half of the world's population online, 3.2 billion to be precise, Facebook needs to depend on Internet.org and Free Basics to reach its tough target. India accounts for 130 million Facebook users, with 375 million that are online and another 900 million that do not have access to the internet, India is one of the most promising markets for Facebook's growth strategy, says The Motley Fool

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