From being just a social media platform, Facebook is transforming itself as an enabler of Internet access through various initiatives aimed at reaching the next billion users. Facebook has announced that it has partnershiped with Internet Service Providers in India to launch wi-fi enabled broadband services in rural areas. Called Wi-Fi Express, the initiative is part of Facebook’s Internet.org platform as it looks to expand its user base beyond the saturated markets in the US and Europe.

The Wi-Fi Express has gone live first in India. The initial Wi-Fi zones have been launched across several locations in North India. The initiative is being led by Munish Seth, who was earlier the country head of Alcatel Lucent’s India operations.

Facebook has developed a low-cost software that will help hotspot operators at the village level do the billing and also alert consumers about data usage. The wi-fi services run on unlicenced free-to-air spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band. Users can get speeds of up to 1.5-2 Mbps within the hotspot zone. To access the service, users have to buy packages, which start at ₹10.

Facebook did not name the Internet Service Providers with which it has partnered to launch the service. Facebook has been experimenting with various technologies to provide low-cost connectivity solutions.

Facebook also wants to roll out this project in other countries. In the past, many companies had tried similar projects in India using technologies like WiMax and Cordect. However, they had failed to take off for a number of reasons, including lack of a business prospects in rural areas.