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Telenor has been a pioneer in using zero-rating to drive internet adoption. One of the most significant examples was its partnership with Facebook in 2015 to launch Internet.org in Pakistan, providing Telenor customers free access to a set of 17 basic online services including Facebook. This "onramp to the Internet" was designed to bring first-time users online, with a notable spike in internet uptake as a result. More recently, Telenor has continued this trend, offering specific promotions like additional data for WhatsApp and TikTok to eligible customers.
Free access to online portals allows students to submit assignments without data costs. 3. Government Services and Portals
While the list of zero-rated sites can change based on active promotions, the following categories and platforms have historically been, or are currently, offered for free access: :
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As Pakistan’s digital economy matures, the nature of zero-rating is changing. With the massive consolidation in the telecom sector—such as the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) approving the major acquisition of by PTCL (the parent company of Ufone )—the telecom market is undergoing structural shifts. This consolidation means fewer, more dominant players in the market.
Historically, the most prominent zero-rated service in Pakistan. Through partnerships with networks like Telenor and Zong, users could access a "lite" version of Facebook and other essential sites (health, news, jobs) for free.
Internet.org operates on a zero-rating model where content providers pay for the data traffic to their sites rather than the consumer. While the initiative aimed to bring internet access to those who could not otherwise afford it, it quickly drew criticism from net neutrality advocates who argued that access was limited to only 16 sites selected by Facebook.
Pakistan has no enforced net neutrality law. The has officially stated that zero-rating is not a violation of its regulations, provided it is disclosed transparently. However, digital rights groups like Bolo Bhi and Internet Society Pakistan continue to oppose the practice.