Instagram Lite Launched By Facebook In 170 Countries With Lower Bandwidth

Facebook said on Wednesday it was launching a “lite” version of Instagram in 170 countries that will enable people with poor internet to access the photo and video sharing social networking service.

Instagram Lite will be available for Android-based phones and require less bandwidth than the traditional version.

The app itself requires just 2MB – versus 30MB for Instagram – and runs even on slower 2G networks, allowing customers in parts of India, Africa, Asia, and Latin America with older Internet infrastructure to access the service.

“These are the markets where there is the greatest need,” said Tzach Hadar, director of product management at Facebook in Tel Aviv, where the app was largely developed.

“It uses a lot less data so if you have a small data package you are not going to run out when you use the service. But the aim is for us to give the same breadth of experience you get on Instagram,” he told Reuters.

In addition to the lite versions, Facebook in Tel Aviv also developed the Express WiFi service to bring Internet access to some 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America.

Hadar said his team was now working on a digital wallet for Facebook. “You have close to 2 billion people that have no access or limited access to banks and financial services and there are tens of billions of dollars being spent just for fees for migrants wanting to send money back to their families,” he said.

Another initiative, he said, was Facebook Shops for small businesses to sell products online.