Google has announced that the Google Station program is now available in Mexico. Despite the decreasing costs of mobile data plans in the Latin American country, Mexicans are still looking for ways to connect to the internet without using their mobile data, and Google aims to provide a solution to this concern through its Google Station project. The search giant said that with the help of internet service provider Sitwifi, the Google Station will be available in more than 60 high-traffic venues across the country, including shopping centers, airports, and transport stations. The tech firm also mentioned that it aims to increase the number of hotspots to more than 100 by the end of the year.
While customers benefit from a free and reliable internet connection, the internet service providers also benefit from the Google Station program. The search giant is providing data-backed tools that help service providers in designing their networks and determining the most appropriate locations for their Wi-Fi hotspots. Moreover, Google Station enables ISPs to monetize their Wi-Fi hotspots through advertising. Google disclosed that it is offering advertisements in a number of digital formats, including banners and video clips. The tech company is providing the software tools to its partners for free in exchange for a share of the advertising revenue of the Wi-Fi hotspots.
Aside from Mexico, Google Station is already available in India and Indonesia. Google’s free Wi-Fi service first launched in India back in 2016, and the search giant partnered with local companies like Indian Railways and RailTel in an effort to expand the service to more locations across the South Asian country. By the end of 2016, Google has successfully rolled out its Wi-Fi service in more than 100 railway stations in the country. The following year, the tech firm launched the Google Station in Indonesia with the help of partners CBN and Fiberstar. In addition, the tech firm is also actively working on other programs that could help connect more people to the internet, including its signal-relaying balloons developed as part of Project Loon.