India is a tough market, but it has had special victories with Microsoft and very special struggles with Facebook. This week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella declared the company will be lending a helping hand to Indian startups, which was very well received. Facebook, meanwhile, is still struggling to convince India of the benefits of Internet.org.
Microsoft Wins India Over Through Support
Though Microsoft’s T-Hub, Nadella hopes to spread awareness on startups and encourage them. Microsoft is also looking into launching white space technology in India, making use of the unused spaces in TV. This will be an experimental phase, where districts within certain states can invest in providing widespread internet with the help of white space technology.
Microsoft: Indian Startups Have Great Potential
Microsoft was briefed in regards to many IT efforts, including fibergrid and e-Progress, and is even considering opening a Microsoft campus in the region of Andhra Pradesh. The goal is to build a healthy startup environment that can use the help of Microsoft to make India more connected at a low cost. Not only that, it allows India to do all the work themselves.
Microsoft CEO: ‘Do Not Be Discouraged By Your Failures’
Microsoft was quoted as declaring that these companies have their full support so as to bring India to a higher grade of development. The successes in India are nearly always instant headlines, the world is looking out for them. So this partnership will only give them a helping hand and a rock base, and it’s a step in the right direction.
India has the largest startup ecosystem after the US and the UK, with 4,200 new companies registered in 2015. They’re also looking into digitizing classrooms to bring the rate of literacy up and promoting the use of cloud technology for enterprises.
Facebook Has Good Intentions, But Bad Rapport
Over the past week, Mark Zuckerberg has gone through some trouble to communicate the true message behind Free Basics. The platform brings very basic internet access free of charge, and helps people become more connected.
Since the service was first introduced, it received mixed reviews. On the one hand, it does allow for internet access, but it is extremely limited. Zuckerberg defended this by saying that Free Basics is better than having no internet at all, but there is certainly more to that. If Free Basics is selective about the access it gives, then it can choose what becomes available in India. Ultimately, it also chooses what is popular. This betrays the main concept of the project.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Main Problem with India
The reason why Internet.org will probably not succeed in India is because it’s trying to decide what’s best for the Indian people. As pointed out by chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, if Facebook or Mark Zuckerberg decide to dictate what the poor, disconnected and underdeveloped have access to, they would be taking away from the people’s right to choose what they want for themselves, and what they think is best for them. No one could have said it better.
