Facebook’s Express WiFi is live in India and right know the company is testing Express Wifi service at a number of rural locations in India.
Facebook Is Testing “Express WiFi” In India
It’s almost a year when Facebook made a grand attempt to connect Indians to the internet. However, it was shot down by the government for allegedly violating net neutrality with Free Basics.
Facebook is now testing a new model for public Wi-Fi deployments for offering faster and quality internet via public Wi-Fi hotspots in rural parts of the country. As mentioned in Facebook’s Internet.org page, the “Express WiFi” is live in India.
The company is “working with carriers, internet service providers and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world… are expanding to other regions soon”
However, it’s still to be clear that the company will give users complete internet access or limited access to few websites like Facebook’s Free Basics internet service. The company said:
“Express Wi-Fi empowers local entrepreneurs to help provide quality internet access to their neighbors and make a steady income. Working with local internet providers or model operators, they’re able to use software provided by Facebook to connect their communities.”
Facebook’s spokesperson confirms about the “Express WiFi” by saying that the company is working with internet service providers to test express-wifi with public Wi-Fi deployments in multiple pilot sites
Facebook’s Spokesperson said “Express Wi-Fi empowers local entrepreneurs to help provide quality internet access to their neighbors and make a steady income. Working with local internet providers or model operators, they’re able to use software provided by Facebook to connect their communities.”
Express Wifi which is also a part of Facebook’s Internet.org initiative, differs from Free Basics program that received a lot of flak earlier this year in India. Free Basics was banned by the Indian government earlier this year on grounds of violating net neutrality.