Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Visits Colombia For Internet.Org Launch

Mark Zuckerberg paid a visit to Colombia for the first time, to launch internet.org which is a free internet service that will grant access to basic web services for Colombians. The country is the first to get the service in Latin America and the fourth in the world after Kenia, Zambia and Tanzania. During the launch, Zuckerberg brought up the importance of expanding this service, and how it can help in bringing equality and create peace. “By giving people these basic free tools, we are creating an equality of opportunities,” said the 30-year-old CEO.

In an event with President Juan Manuel Santos, Zuckerberg explained how low-end mobile phone users in Colombia will be able to access certain websites for free thanks to a partnership with local cellular phone provider, Tigo. When questioned if the millionaire was doing just to get more users on Facebook and increase revenues, his response was "I can promise you that if what I cared about was making more money, I would take the engineers and the people who are working on Internet.org and spreading connectivity around the world and have them go work on our ads product," he said.

Zuckerberg shared the goals for internet.org saying they aim to bring the Internet to at least two-thirds of the world's population that lacks access and said he loves Colombia’s biodiversity, as well as their singer Shakira “I'm a really big fan,” he said.

Both the social network founder of course took to his Facebook page to share his experience in Colombia and thank President Santos. The President on the other hand, thanked the Facebook founder via Twitter.