Facebook has today announced a partnership with 18 mobile operators in 14 countries around the world to offer their customers free or discounted data rates for Facebook messaging apps.

The rates will become available in the coming months for any mobile phone optimised for Facebook chat including Messenger for Android, Messenger for iOS and Facebook for Every Phone (the Java app for feature phones).

Mobile operators already committed include TMN in Portugal, Three in Ireland, Airtel and Reliance in India, Vivacom in Bulgaria, Backcell in Azerbaydzhan, Indosat, Smartfren, AXIS and XL Axiata in Indonesia, SMART in Philippines, DiGi in Malaysia, DTAC in Thailand, Viva in Bahrain, STC in Saudi Arabia, Oi in Brazil, Etisalat in Egypt, and Tre in Italy.