Facebook testing Express Wi-Fi at multiple locations in India
29 Nov 2016
A spokesperson for Facebook issued a statement stating that the company was working with ISP and operator partners to test Express Wi-Fi at multiple locations, which empowered the operators, ISPs and local entrepreneur-retailers to offer quality internet to their town, village or region.
Facebook, added that Express Wi-Fi customers could purchase fast, reliable and affordable data packs via digital vouchers to access the internet on Express Wi-Fi network to make a sustainable economic model for everyone involved.
In partnership with BSNL, the social network was currently testing a new internet infrastructure ''Express Wi-Fi'' in rural areas to provide 'affordable' internet to people who did not have access to the cheap internet or in some cases, no internet at all.
On its ''Express Wifi'' page the social network has only offered some vague details of the service. The company said it was working with carriers or mobile operators, internet service providers and local entrepreneurs to help increase the connectivity of internet in these remote locations. Facebook had been testing the service over a period of time that it had not specified, but the company planned to expand the service to other regions.
According to commentators, the ''Express Wifi'' was part of the social media company's grander plans to grant internet access to more remote parts of the world.
''We're working with carriers, internet service providers, and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world,'' reads an official description posted on Facebook's ''Internet.org'' website. ''We're currently live in India, and are expanding to other regions soon.''
Facebook had not named the regions in India in which it was using the new service, which would not be free.
''When people are able to purchase fast, affordable and reliable internet, they're able to explore the range of information it has to offer including news, education, health, job postings, entertainment, and communication tools like Facebook,'' the Internet.org report said.