Today in Barcelona, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that in the past year, Internet.org, Facebook's effort to create new users in countries with little or low Internet use, has launched its application with basic free services in six countries. "Facebook drives the data usage in developing markets," Zuckerberg said. "We use the social network as a driver [for data] and this needs to be sustainable. It costs tens of billions a year."

Through the Internet.org app, more than 500 million people in six countries can now access health, employment and local information services without data charges, Zuckerberg said.

He added that in countries where Facebook has launched the Internet.org app, the rate of acquisition of new data customers for operators increased by at least 40%.

The number of people using data on Tigo’s network in Colombia increased by 50%, and Tigo’s monthly smartphone sales grew 10X in Tanzania since the launch of Internet.org.

In Zambia, Kenya and Ghana, Airtel saw the number of people using data and data usage increase, and both voice and SMS activity grew across Africa.

Zuckerberg said that while it is "sexy" to talk about using drones and satellites to help communities without access to connect to the Internet, the connectivity is mainly achieved through conventional telecommunications work.