Cellcom, Facebook sign major partnership deal

Though the amount for the deal has not been disclosed, sources at Cellcom GSM said it is worth millions of United States dollars.

According to the partnership package, at zero balance (no money or credit), a customer can simply dial *777# to get free access to Facebook's basic and other features.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cellcom GSM, Avishai Marziano, said the launch of the Free Access Innovative Product is Cellcom's way to address the significant gaps that exist in connecting people and those doing research.

Marziano said the free connectivity is a right for all Cellcom customers because Cellcom is determined to improve its internet access to benefit its Liberian customers.

He stated that "911 and 4455" are free access numbers to call for help. Cellcom has also launched *777# as a free access that will help customers to socialize and do research.

"Cellcom's deal with Facebook has made Liberia the 18th country in Africa to work with Facebook and 78th in the world to improve customers' experience in mobile technology," he said.

Cellcom GSM's Vice President for Administration and Human Resources, Sara Buchanan, demonstrating the Cellcom Facebook product, said at zero balance one can access Facebook Messenger and do research with over 30 listed products on the package, including Wikipedia, BBC, Super Sports and others.

Health Minister Dr. Bernice Dahn hailed Cellcom for the partnership with Facebook and said the free internet access would be beneficial to students for research and assignment purposes.

She said during the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in Liberia, Cellcom GSM provided the free "4455" number, which is still in use, along with training for doctors, and provided mobile phones to medical doctors at reasonable cost.

The Ministers of Gender, Children and Social Protection (Julia Duncan Cassell), Information (Lewis Brown) and Youth and Sports (Lenn Eugene Nagbe) also commended Cellcom for the partnership.

Minister Cassell said the free internet access would be helpful in their daily work, especially when working with adolescent girls and aged women while Information Minister Brown said the deal has unraveled the truth that "the future is here, and Cellcom always leads the way." Minister Nagbe indicated that Liberia's youth population, which stands at 70 percent, would be grateful for the free internet access.