Google is set to introduce free WiFi at railway stations across India in 2016 starting with Mumbai Central. So how’s it going to work and how will you be able to use the Internet?
How Does it Work?
Google has partnered with Railtel to provide fibre cable-powered Internet at railway stations in India and by the end of 2016, over 100 stations will be WiFi enabled. The service is available for free for one hour and Google claims the speed of the Internet will be higher than the average speeds in the country, ie, 512 kbps right now.
But after an hour, you won’t have to pay to keep using the Internet – you’ll just have to deal with slower speeds. Hopefully, Google will make sure the speeds aren’t too slow.
In a country like India, with its high-density population, network bandwidth may be an issue. But Google will make use of access points across the station area to make sure that Internet speeds remain consistent even when a large number of people are on the network.
In order to provide consistent internet connectivity across the area, we will be making use of multiple access points to derive stable and fast Internet speed for users.Marian Croak, Vice President, Access Strategy and Emerging Markets
In all likelihood, Google’s WiFi at railway stations will be active in the Tier-1 cities as part of the first phase. The next stage will involve targeting 16 zones in the country, wherein one station will be covered from each zone.
We will be setting up the WiFi service on a quarterly basis, covering bunch of stations at a time.Gulzar Azad, Strategy and Partnership, Google India
Here’s how Google plans to provide this Internet connectivity for free:
- Google will partner with brands that are willing to sponsor its WiFi service. This way, consumers will not have to pay for the Internet provided.
- The sponsor is expected to pay Google and in return they get to project themselves via ads on the web platform used by the public.
- Much like the Delhi Metro model, Google will be hoping to get brands like Amazon and Micromax on board.
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