Google to Wind up its Station Project Globally, RailTel to Continue Services

Google is all set to pull the plug off from the ambitious Google Station project. Google launched this public WiFi offerings in railway stations of India in 2015 by partnering telecom arm of Indian Railways, RailTel and now connects more than 400 stations. 

Later Google Station was expanded to other countries - Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam with local ISPs as partner. 

In a blog post by Caesar Sengupta, VP - Payments and Next Billion Users of Google points out that Indians are getting cheapest 4G data and better LTE coverage, hence they will wind up Station services while they will continue to work with 'partners to transition existing sites so they can remain useful resources for the community.' The post also mentions their initial target of reaching 400 stations was completed in June 2018. 

BSNL WiFi 4G Plus - Data Offload from Cellular Networks !

Back in the era of pre Jio, a handful of service providers came with public WiFi Hotspot services, like Ozone WiFi, Tata Docomo WiFi. They were mostly available in shopping malls, restaurants, coffee shops etc. Their pricing model was use free for 30-60 min, and then pay for it. As Jio nearing to launch their 4G services commercially, Jio also launched its own WiFi services - JioNet. However​ Jionet is mostly defunc now.

As 4G mobility goes mass spread, people almost stopped using WiFi hotspots. But the thing came back strongly. Ozone, the leader in this market was lost in the transition but Google and Indian Railways' telecom arm Railtel created a massive WiFi hotspot network. Google Station, as it's named was a pilot by Google and its partner Railtel started in 2016 targeting the audience who are travelling by trains. This WiFi networks are located at major rail stations of India. Later Google was roped in by Pune Smart City Corporation for similar public WiFi offerings. 

Back in 2012-14 I was pushing for this thing for data offload from mobile network to WiFi. Thankfully with massive data users after 4G went mainstream, telecom operators are thinking in that direction. BSNL is one of first telecom company to offer public WiFi.

Google WiFi at Rail Stations Gets a Brandname : Google Station

Partnered with Indian Railway's own telecom arm- RailWire, Google had launched free WiFi services in Indian Railway stations across the country back in January of 2016. I posted a review of this free WiFi services at Sealdah rail station - read here. The deal between RailTel corp, the mother of RailWire brand and Google Inc. was signed in September 2015 with a target to reach 400 railway stations, equipped with WiFi. In January 2016 Mumbai Central became first station in India to have Google WiFi.