Google’s Country-Wide Free Wi-Fi Project Launches at Mumbai Central Station

Google plans to launch this for 400 other stations across the country, making it one of the largest public Wi-Fi projects in India

Author: Saloni Gajjar

Published: February 9, 2016, 12:28 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/lifestyle/googles-country-wide-free-wi-fi-project-launches-at-mumbai-central-station-923221/ Copy

Mumbai Central station in South Mumbai is home to many things—uncontrollable chaos, incredible crowds, buzzing sounds and train horns. Now, thanks to Google, free Wi-Fi can now be added to this list.

On January 22, one of the busiest train stations in the city got access to high-speed public Internet. Additionally, Google plans to launch this service for 400 other stations across the country, making it one of the largest public Wi-Fi projects in India. We’ll be seeing this in action sooner than expected, with 100 stations poised to get Internet by the end of 2016.

The company has collaborated with Indian Railways Telecom Wing, also known as Rail Tel, for this project. They have laid out 45,000 km of the optic fiber network.

“Even with just the first 100 stations online, this project will make Wi-Fi available to millions of Indians who pass through railway stations every day, making it the largest public Wi-Fi project in India and among the largest in the world by a number of potential users,” a statement from Google read.

This is a huge step for Internet connectivity in India, a country with one of the slowest broadband access speeds. At Mumbai Central, the first-hour connection will be high-speed for the user; after this initial period, the Wi-Fi speed will begin to decrease. Once the free data is exhausted, customers will start getting charged around Rs. 25 to 30 per hour.

[Photo Source: Scroll.in/Data: Akamai]

Google’s large-scale project to uplift Internet connection is not surprising. India’s market value is on the rise, as is evident by multiple international giants wanting to invest in the country, including Facebook, Microsoft and Apple. This interest was further boosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to the headquarters of all things technology, Silicon Valley in California.

For the million Mumbaikars who travel by train every day, the transit system is more than just a form of commuting—it has become synonymous with the spirit of a hectic but charming city life. Upgrading this daily activity by providing free Wi-Fi may is definitely a sign of progress.