Just days after TRAI's stand against differential pricing and Facebook's decision to shut down its controversial 'Free Basics' programme in India, the social networking giant's managing director in India, Kirthiga Reddy, announced that she will be stepping down from her post.
Reddy, in a Facebook post on Friday, said, that she would relocate to the US in the next 6-12 months.
She wrote, "Our two daughters start high school and middle school this coming year— which serves as a natural transition point to make this move back."
"I could not be more excited about where the Facebook business is in India, where we are going and what’s to come. Over the last six years, starting as the first employee for Facebook in India, I have had the privilege to be part of our amazing growth journey."
"What am I going to be doing? It will be business as-usual over the next 6-12 months. I am working closely with William Easton and Dan Neary as we search for my successor in India. I have also begun to explore new opportunities at Facebook back at Menlo Park."
According to The Guardian, Facebook said in a comment: “As she had planned for some time, Kirthiga Reddy is moving back to the US to work with the teams in headquarters. We are extremely proud of the work she has done to grow our global sales business in India. During her time in India, Kirthiga was not involved in our Free Basic Services efforts.”
Earlier this week, Facebook decided to shut down its controversial 'Free Basics' programme in India, following telecom regulator TRAI's move to bar operators from charging different rates for Internet access based on content.
"Free Basics is no longer available to people in India," a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed response. The service was available in India with Reliance Communications. In December, RCom put the service on hold following a Telecom Regulator Authority of India's directive to that effect.
Ruling in favour of net neutrality, Trai has barred all telecom operators from offering discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content, implying that operators will have to charge the same price for data used, irrespective of website or app accessed by the consumer.
This puts an end to Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel's zero rating plans in India.