by Muyiwa Matuluko

Facebook for Android isn’t exactly one of the most data efficient apps you can have on your phone, what with all the unsolicited auto playing video ads that continue to proliferate our news feeds?

In parts of the world, like Africa, where data is still very expensive, this a huge challenge, not just for Facebook users themselves, but also for Facebook who are looking to drive mass adoption in the continent. Which is why 7 months ago, Facebook sent engineers on an expedition to Africa to experience first-hand our challenges in using the app.  That expedition has finally yielded a favourable product. It’s called ‘Facebook Lite’

Facebook Lite, which is a scaled-down version of the original Android app, is based on the Snaptu engine (which Facebook powers “Facebook for all” on non-smartphones) but includes a couple of native Android features like push notifications and camera integration. Just 252kb in size, it is designed to utilize less resources. So it will run smoothly on outdated Android. It will also use far less data than usual and operate optimally even on an EDGE connection.

Apparently, the app was launched “quietly” over the weekend to select countries – Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe – where Facebook hopes they can validate its feasibility, which points to the possibility of the app being taken down any time, should it prove a non-viable exercise.

If you are in any of the countries where it’s been launched and you have an Android phone, you can download Facebook Lite here.

Muyiwa