[toyg]

The point is that Free Basics existing would automatically remove a huge amount of incentive for other solutions appearing. Why bother building a better internet if FB already provides "the essentials" to everyone? It would wipe the market before it had a chance to develop organically as it happened elsewhere. If AOL had provided free access to its own services only we would have a very different network today.

[icebraining]

The Internet market in India already has 300+ million users, and has been growing at a good pace. It's hardly an incipient market.

And besides, before AOL there was CompuServe (and Minitel, in France), which did provide access almost exclusively to its own services.

[toyg]

CompuServe never had the volume and appeal FB has today. Minitel is a good reference because it is widely credited as one of the reasons France initially experienced slow internet uptake.