Turkey to offer free Internet to poor families

Turkey prepares to reduce the digital divide of usage rate of internet and to offer free internet access to poor families

People and families with low incomes in Turkey will receive free Internet access under a new government measure announced Friday.

According to the Ministry of Development’s 2015-2018 Information Society Strategy and Action Plan, the aim is to reduce the digital divide by providing Internet access to Turkey’s poorest, giving families with students the priority.

Users will have unlimited access to certain websites deemed useful to students and families. Usage quotas will apply for surfing the rest of the web.

The plan also announces upgrades to Internet infrastructure and will make it compulsory for new buildings to be Internet-ready.

A government survey in August 2014 found that 42.8 percent of households do not have Internet at home because they "have no need" for it. Another 31.9 percent said access costs are too high.