Aircel is offering now free mobile Wikipedia access

Wikimedia Foundation has announced a partnership with Indian mobile operator, Aircel, to offer free access to Wikipedia on mobile phones. This essentially means that the operator would not levy any data charges when its customers access Wikipedia's mobile websites.

The alliance is aimed at making knowledge available on Wikipedia accessible to all Aircel customers in both rural and urban areas for free, Aircel said in a release.

This initiative is part of the foundation's 'Wikipedia Zero' programme to reach mobile internet users around the world. The partnership will help provide Wikipedia to 60 million new users in the region, it added.

Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer for Aircel, said, "Through our alliance with the Wikimedia Foundation, Aircel is not only making internet services reach a wider audience, but also helping to encourage and enrich the lives of our customers by offering access to knowledge and information free of cost. We are excited about this partnership and hope this initiative will benefit all our customers from various age groups."

Aircel customers will be able to access versions of Wikipedia in English, Hindi, Tamil, and 17 other Indic languages.

"We hail Aircel's commitment to enhancing and expanding access to free knowledge for their mobile customers. With the partnership, we extend our program to India where we potentially reach millions of people for the first time." Wikimedia Foundation Head of Mobile Kul Takanao Wadhwa said.