Wikipedia Zero

For predecessors and prototypes of Wikipedia, see History of Wikipedia.

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Wikipedia Zero was a project by the Wikimedia Foundation to provide access to Wikipedia free of charge on mobile phones via zero-rating, particularly in developing markets.[1][2] The objective of the program was to facilitate access to free knowledge for low-income pupils and students, by means of waiving the network traffic cost. With 97 operators in over 72 countries, it was estimated that access to Wikipedia was provided to more than 800 million people through the program.[3] The program ended in 2018.

The program was launched in 2012,[4] and won the 2013 South by Southwest Interactive Award for activism.[5] It received criticism over the years for violating the principle of net neutrality.[6][7] In February 2018, the project announced the end of the initiative, stating that it would take a new strategy on partnerships.[8] Despite providing service to 900 million persons, the project was seen as jeopardized by a lack of growth, and by the declining price of cell phone data.[9]

Facebook Zero has been cited as an inspiration for Wikipedia Zero.[10]

  1. ^ Russell, Brandon (22 February 2013). "Wikipedia Zero Wants to Bring Wikipedia to Mobile Users Without a Data Plan". TechnoBuffalo. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  2. ^ Wadhwa, Kul Takanao (22 February 2013). "Getting Wikipedia to the people who need it most". Knight Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Wikipedia Zero - Wikimedia Foundation". wikimediafoundation.org. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  4. ^ Sofge, Erik (8 March 2013). "SXSW: Wikipedia for Non-Smartphones Is Brilliant. Here's Why". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. ^ Riese, Monica (12 March 2013). "SXSW Interactive Awards Announced". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas: Austin Chronicle Corp. ISSN 1074-0740. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Tiwari, Aditya (19 February 2018). "Free 'Wikipedia Zero' Is Shutting Down After Serving 800 Million Users". Fossbytes. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ^ Dillon, Conon (18 December 2013). "Wikipedia Zero: free data if you can afford it". Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.