Ever since its beginning, Project Fi has always been a U.S.-based service, establishing Google’s stateside presence as an MVNO for interested subscribers. Since Google didn’t own their own towers and is not technically a wireless carrier, they provide service based on (at the time) T-Mobile and Sprint’s networks, and now U.S. Cellular, with data roaming in many countries globally. Earlier this month, back on July 12th, to be exact, Google announced that they were boosting speeds of Project Fi internet use internationally so subscribers were able to get even faster speeds than before. Now it appears that Google may be looking to establish itself as an MVNO in Europe, according to a new report that states Google has partnered with Hutchison Whampoa to deliver connectivity to customers of Project Fi outside the U.S.
The details of the report mention that this new partnership is aimed at customers who will need service when traveling throughout Europe, although there isn’t much to be said for specifics of the partnership and what it will include for those who already subscribe to Google’s MVNO service. It is also not stated that Google is preparing to offer Project Fi to European customers, although the partnership is seemingly suggesting a potential for it in the future as this is being referred to as “a step closer” and could be a stepping stone leading in that particular direction. It also is not made clear which countries in Europe the Hutchison partnership includes.
According to Hutchison’s statement, Hue, which is Hutchison’s Mobile Virtual Network Enabler, will be the company providing international data services for Project Fi customers when they’re traveling in Europe. Based on the rumored details, Hue’s involvement as Hutchison’s MVNE could allow them to make deals on behalf of Google to multiple networks throughout Europe, as Hutchison already owns multiple networks in European countries such as Austria, Italy, and Denmark among others which operate under Hutchison’s 3 brand. While Google have not stated that they have plans to bring Project Fi to European customers, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the partnership with Hutchison could be a way to see if Project Fi in the region would work.