Google will install public Wi-Fi across 400 railway stations in India. Reports say this would be the largest public Wi-Fi in the country and certainly one of the largest in the world.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company would be installing high-speed Wi-Fi in 400 Indian stations. It was divulged prior to the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Google headquarters.
"Today, on the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to our U.S. headquarters, and in line with his Digital India initiative, we announced a new project to provide high-speed public Wi-Fi in 400 train stations across India," the CEO wrote on official Google blog.
The public Wi-Fi is part of Google's Project Loon. Its purpose is to bring high-speed internet access to rural areas in the developing countries, Ubergizmostipulated. Pichai said the project's focus is to get billion Indians online; for them to have an access to web information and online opportunities.
Google had partnered with Indian Railways and Internet provider RailTel. The project is set to provide the service on its first station this year. Initially, it would be installed in 100 Indian stations by 2016 along with another 300 stations in the coming years. The access will be free to all though there are plans to make it self-sustainable in the future.
The Verge specified that the railroad in India accommodates 13 million passengers per day. The country has 7000 stations across 67,000 mile-track. They called the railway "The Lifeline to the Nation".
Pichar said he used to be one of those passengers before. "Just like I did years ago, thousands of young Indians walk through Chennai Central every day, eager to learn, to explore and to seek opportunity. It's my hope that this Wi-Fi project will make all these things a little easier."
Tech Crunch reported the internet connection would be a lot faster than any of what India uses today. It would allow people to watch videos, search destinations and download games.
About 10 million people every day will benefit on the first 100 stations. This would be India's largest public Wi-Fi and likewise, one of the largest in the world.
Join the Conversation