Facebook said it will provide free basic Internet services for the African country of Zambia through a new app called Internet.org.

Worldwide, persons that have access to the Internet comprise only one-third of the global population. The adoption rate, however, is gradually increasing by nine percent annually, according to Tech Crunch.

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Internet.org is expected to boost that rate.

Internet.org is a project spearheaded by Facebook along with six mobile phone manufacturers that include Samsung, Ericsson and Nokia.

This project aims to bring affordable Internet access to 5 billion people, according to The Verge.  The partners will work together to produce cheap, high quality smartphones and data-compression technologies to make the Web cost less.

"With this app, people can browse a set of useful health, employment and local information services without data charges," said Guy Rosen, Product Management Director.

"By providing free basic services via the app, we hope to bring more people online and help them discover valuable services they might not have otherwise."

Zambia is the venue chosen to debut the Internet.org app. The app will allow access to a certain number of sites without data fees charged to subscribers of the mobile service provider, Airtel.

Some of the sites with free access include Facebook, Facts for Life, Wikipedia and Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action.

While Facebook is making Zambia the first country to receive the app, it will introduce the app to other nations that normally do not have access to the web.

Earlier in the year, Facebook bought drone maker Titan Aerospace for US$60 million to further the Internet.org cause. The high-altitude drones will give Facebook the capability to beam wireless Internet access to underdeveloped parts of the globe.

TagsFacebook Apps, mobile, Mobile Apps, Africa, South Africa, Free, drone