Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company's WhatsApp Messenger service could reach two to three billion users.

Last February, Facebook announced its acquisition of WhatsApp, an internet text messaging application with 450 million active users, for US$19 billion in cash and stock.

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After the acquisition, Zuckerberg said his initial goal was to increase the number of WhatsApp users to one billion.

Last month, WhatsApp's user base expanded to 600 million, some reports said.

"I think WhatsApp is going to be the global text messaging platform," Zuckerberg said in an event hosted by Carlos Slim's Telmex Foundation.

Despite its acquisition by Facebook, WhatsApp has remained independent from Facebook and will remain independent should its user base get to one billion.  

Facebook's partnership with WhatsApp will give the latter more resources and opportunities to connect with people, Zuckerberg said.

According to Zuckerberg, "the more people who are connected to the Web, the more room Facebook has to grow."

Last year, Facebook launched its Internet.org initiative aiming to give Internet access to disconnected places. Until now, Facebook is working with telecommunication service providers to get more people connected.

Zuckerberg again voiced his goal to bring the Internet to more people worldwide. He said Facebook, which already has 1.3 billion monthly active users, aims to connect everyone across the globe.

"Even if Facebook has to spend billions of dollars over the next decade just to make it happen, Zuckerberg added.

He believes if all people are connected to the Internet, it will benefit all businesses and national economies in the long-term.

TagsZuckerberg, WhatsApp, users