Social media network Facebook has joined Indian telecom industry association COAI.
Facebook India Online Services will be the associate member of COAI.
COAI’s Associate Membership comprises of companies that manufacture or support the functioning, promotion, research development and evolution of mobile communications services.
COAI’s other Associate Members include Alcatel Lucent India, Cisco Systems India, Ericsson India, IBM India, GTL Infrastructure, Huawei Technologies, Indus Towers, Intel, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Qualcomm India and ZTE India.
The social media network is promoting access to Internet to boost its geographical reach.
Ankhi Das, public policy director – India & South Asia, Facebook, said: “Over 85 percent of the world’s population lives in areas with existing cellular coverage, yet only about 30 percent of the total population accesses the internet. Affordability and awareness are significant barriers to internet adoption.”
Facebook has more than 1.32 billion monthly active users globally, including over 100 million monthly active users in India.
Rajan S Mathews, director general, COAI, said: “Social networking, especially Facebook, has changed the way Indians work, play, communicate, socialize and do business. We believe this will further grow to become a crucial part of and influence the socio-economic culture in the country.”
