{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T07:18:08Z","timestamp":1776755888189,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]],"date-time":"2017-10-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1508889600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.acm.org\/publications\/policies\/copyright_policy#Background"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["dl.acm.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Free Basics is a Facebook initiative to provide zero-rated web services in developing countries. The program has grown rapidly to 60+ countries in the past two years. But it has also seen strong opposition from Internet activists and has been banned in some countries like India. Facebook highlights the societal benefits of providing low-income populations with free Internet access, while detractors point to concerns about privacy and network neutrality.<\/jats:p>\n          <jats:p>In this paper, we provide the first independent analysis of such claims regarding the Free Basics service, using both the perspective of a Free Basics service provider and of web clients visiting the service via cellular phones providing access to Free Basics in Pakistan and South Africa.<\/jats:p>\n          <jats:p>Specifically, with control of both endpoints, we not only provide a more detailed view of how the Free Basics service is architected, but also can isolate the likely causes of network performance impairments. Our analysis reveals that Free Basics services experience 4 to 12 times worse network performance than their paid counterparts. We isolate the root causes using factors such as network path inflation and throttling policies by Facebook and telecom service providers.<\/jats:p>\n          <jats:p>The Free Basics service and its restrictions are designed with assumptions about users' device capabilities (e.g., lack of JavaScript support). To evaluate such assumptions, we infer the types of mobile devices that generated 47K unique visitors to our Free Basics services between Sep 2016 and Jan 2017. We find that there are large numbers of requests from constrained WAP browsers, but also large fractions of high-capability mobile phones that send Free Basics requests.<\/jats:p>\n          <jats:p>We discuss the implications of our observations, with the hope to aid more informed debates on such telecom policies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1145\/3155055.3155058","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,26]],"date-time":"2017-10-26T14:19:33Z","timestamp":1509027573000},"page":"12-24","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["Inside the Walled Garden"],"prefix":"10.1145","volume":"47","author":[{"given":"Rijurekha","family":"Sen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"MPI-SWS"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sohaib","family":"Ahmad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LUMS"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amreesh","family":"Phokeer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UCT"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zaid Ahmed","family":"Farooq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LUMS"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ihsan Ayyub","family":"Qazi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LUMS"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Choffnes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Northeastern University"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Krishna P.","family":"Gummadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MPI-SWS"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"320","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_1_1_2","unstructured":"Brought more than 25 million people online who wouldn't be otherwise. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/blog\/2016\/05\/10\/announcing-the-launch-of-free-basics-in-nigeria\/.  Brought more than 25 million people online who wouldn't be otherwise. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/blog\/2016\/05\/10\/announcing-the-launch-of-free-basics-in-nigeria\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_2_2","unstructured":"Digital divide. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_divide.  Digital divide. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_divide."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_3_2","unstructured":"Facebook lures africa with free internet - but what is the hidden cost? https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/aug\/01\/facebook-free-basics-internet-africa-mark-zuckerberg.  Facebook lures africa with free internet - but what is the hidden cost? https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/aug\/01\/facebook-free-basics-internet-africa-mark-zuckerberg."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_4_2","unstructured":"Facebook's free basics service has been banned in india. http:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2016\/2\/8\/10913398\/free-basics-india-regulator-ruling.  Facebook's free basics service has been banned in india. http:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2016\/2\/8\/10913398\/free-basics-india-regulator-ruling."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_5_2","unstructured":"Free basics by facebook - android apps on google play. https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=org.internet&hl=en.  Free basics by facebook - android apps on google play. https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=org.internet&hl=en."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_6_2","unstructured":"Free basics: Creating digital equality or divide? watch at 5:56 or 6:13 minutes for net neutrality concerns. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZpO31LqNUM.  Free basics: Creating digital equality or divide? watch at 5:56 or 6:13 minutes for net neutrality concerns. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZpO31LqNUM."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_7_2","unstructured":"Free basics: Creating digital equality or divide? watch at 8:03 or 17:08 minutes for privacy concerns. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZpO31LqNUM.  Free basics: Creating digital equality or divide? watch at 8:03 or 17:08 minutes for privacy concerns. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZpO31LqNUM."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_8_2","unstructured":"How to submit - free basics. https:\/\/developers.facebook.com\/docs\/internet-org\/how-to-submit.  How to submit - free basics. https:\/\/developers.facebook.com\/docs\/internet-org\/how-to-submit."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_9_2","unstructured":"The impacts of emerging mobile data services in developing countries. http:\/\/a4ai.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/MeasuringImpactsofMobileDataServices_ResearchBrief2.pdf.  The impacts of emerging mobile data services in developing countries. http:\/\/a4ai.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/MeasuringImpactsofMobileDataServices_ResearchBrief2.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_10_2","unstructured":"internet.org by facebook. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/.  internet.org by facebook. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_11_2","unstructured":"Mobile phone database from imei info. http:\/\/www.imei.info\/.  Mobile phone database from imei info. http:\/\/www.imei.info\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_12_2","unstructured":"Opening internet.org and free basics: An open letter to facebook. https:\/\/openmedia.org\/sites\/default\/files\/openmedia-facebook-freebasicsletter.pdf.  Opening internet.org and free basics: An open letter to facebook. https:\/\/openmedia.org\/sites\/default\/files\/openmedia-facebook-freebasicsletter.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_13_2","unstructured":"Prohibition of discriminatory tariff for data services regulations 2016. http:\/\/www.trai.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/WhatsNew\/Documents\/Regulation_Data_Service.pdf.  Prohibition of discriminatory tariff for data services regulations 2016. http:\/\/www.trai.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/WhatsNew\/Documents\/Regulation_Data_Service.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_14_2","unstructured":"Technical guidelines - free basics. https:\/\/developers.facebook.com\/docs\/internet-org\/platform-technical-guidelines.  Technical guidelines - free basics. https:\/\/developers.facebook.com\/docs\/internet-org\/platform-technical-guidelines."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_15_2","unstructured":"Where we've launched - internet.org. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/story\/where-weve-launched\/.  Where we've launched - internet.org. https:\/\/info.internet.org\/en\/story\/where-weve-launched\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_16_2","unstructured":"World databank. http:\/\/databank.worldbank.org\/data\/.  World databank. http:\/\/databank.worldbank.org\/data\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_17_2","unstructured":"Wurfl device detection and intelligence. http:\/\/wurfl.sourceforge.net\/.  Wurfl device detection and intelligence. http:\/\/wurfl.sourceforge.net\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_18_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2987443.2987470"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_19_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2160673.2160698"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_20_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2815675.2815718"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_21_2","volume-title":"Communications Policy Research South (CPRSouth)","author":"Chen A.","year":"2016","unstructured":"A. Chen , N. Feamster , and E. Calandro . Exploring the walled garden theory: An empirical framework to assess pricing effects on mobile data usage . In Communications Policy Research South (CPRSouth) , 2016 . A. Chen, N. Feamster, and E. Calandro. Exploring the walled garden theory: An empirical framework to assess pricing effects on mobile data usage. In Communications Policy Research South (CPRSouth), 2016."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_22_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/1859995.1860010"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_23_2","author":"Gurumurthy A.","year":"2016","unstructured":"A. Gurumurthy and N. Chami . Internet governance as 'ideology in practice' - india's 'free basics' controversy. Journal on Internet Regulation , 2016 . A. Gurumurthy and N. Chami. Internet governance as 'ideology in practice' - india's 'free basics' controversy. Journal on Internet Regulation, 2016.","journal-title":"Journal on Internet Regulation"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_24_2","volume-title":"Proceedings of the 15th ACM Internet Measurement Conference (IMC)","author":"Kakhki A. M.","year":"2015","unstructured":"A. M. Kakhki , A. Razaghpanah , H. Koo , A. Li , R. Golani , D. Choffnes , P. Gill , and A. Mislove . Identifying traffic differentiation in mobile networks . In Proceedings of the 15th ACM Internet Measurement Conference (IMC) , 2015 . A. M. Kakhki, A. Razaghpanah, H. Koo, A. Li, R. Golani, D. Choffnes, P. Gill, and A. Mislove. Identifying traffic differentiation in mobile networks. In Proceedings of the 15th ACM Internet Measurement Conference (IMC), 2015."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_25_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2442882.2442899"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_26_2","volume-title":"NSDI","author":"Patra R.","year":"2007","unstructured":"R. Patra , S. Nedevschi , S. Surana , A. Sheth , L. Subramanian , and E. Brewer . Wildnet: Design and implementation of high performance wifi based long distance networks . In NSDI , 2007 . R. Patra, S. Nedevschi, S. Surana, A. Sheth, L. Subramanian, and E. Brewer. Wildnet: Design and implementation of high performance wifi based long distance networks. In NSDI, 2007."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_27_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2160673.2160715"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_28_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2987443.2987485"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_29_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2830629.2830649"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_30_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/3136560.3136568"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_31_2","volume-title":"Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD)","author":"Sultan S. F.","year":"2015","unstructured":"S. F. Sultan , H. Humayun , U. Nadeem , Z. K. Bhatti , and S. Khan . Mobile phone price as a proxy for socio-economic indicators . In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD) , 2015 . S. F. Sultan, H. Humayun, U. Nadeem, Z. K. Bhatti, and S. Khan. Mobile phone price as a proxy for socio-economic indicators. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD), 2015."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_32_2","volume-title":"NSDI","author":"Wang X. S.","year":"2016","unstructured":"X. S. Wang , A. Krishnamurthy , and D. Wetherall . Speeding up web page loads with shandian . In NSDI , 2016 . X. S. Wang, A. Krishnamurthy, and D. Wetherall. Speeding up web page loads with shandian. In NSDI, 2016."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_33_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-15509-8_20"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_34_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/2663716.2663748"}],"container-title":["ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3155055.3155058","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1145\/3155055.3155058","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,18]],"date-time":"2025-06-18T02:26:40Z","timestamp":1750213600000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3155055.3155058"}},"subtitle":["Deconstructing Facebook's Free Basics Program"],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1145\/3155055.3155058"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3155055.3155058","relation":{},"ISSN":["0146-4833"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0146-4833","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,25]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2017-10-25","order":2,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}