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Facebook Express Wifi in India: Your 10-Point Cheatsheet
HIGHLIGHTS
The Express Wifi service is aimed at rural areas
It will not be a free service, but will be “affordable”
Customers will have to buy digital vouchers for Facebook’s Express Wifi
Facebook’s Express Wifi is in the news again. Earlier this year, reports emerged that the Wi-Fi service was being tested at a number of rural locations in India.
Express Wifi comes after Facebook had attempted to provide free Internet access via mobile data, in a project originally known as Internet.org, and then later renamed to Free Basics. The problem with Free Basics was that it was offering limited Internet access to just a small number of sites approved by Facebook.
The problem of providing Internet access to people – particularly in rural areas – remains though, and it’s something that companies like Facebook also want to address to grow their reach in the country with projects such as Facebook’s Express Wifi. Now, the social network is taking a different approach to the problem, with a paid public Wi-Fi service that might not have the same kinds of restrictions.
Here’s what you need to know about Facebook’s Express Wifi:
Express Wifi is a model for public Wi-Fi deployment. Facebook’s Express Wifi would enable people to connect their phones (or even computers and other smart devices, which could be distributed by various agencies) to the Internet without spending too much.
The focus of Facebook’s Express Wifi is on rural areas, with 125 locations to begin with. Facebook says that more locations are going to be added soon.
Unlike Internet.org, Express Wifi isn’t free Internet. The exact details are not clear right now, but customers can purchase data packs via digital vouchers. Details on how these purchases will take place, or where, are unclear at the moment.
Facebook has not shared the exact locations where Express Wifi is being tested in India either.
Facebook has not confirmed if Express Wifi will provide access to the full Internet or curated sites. The fact that it’s paid and not free (unlike Free Basics) suggests that it will be a more open system.
Facebook has not shared the rates it is charging for Express Wifi, only saying it is a “sustainable model”.
Express Wifi works with ISPs to set up the network. This is not very different from Facebook’s Free Basics, where the social network tied up with telcos to offer free access to mobile data.
There are few public Wi-Fi networks in India that have significant reach at present, particularly in rural areas. Facebook’s Express Wifi could change that.
Facebook stresses that Express Wifi will empower local entrepreneurs to provide quality Internet access to their neighbours, and make an income.
Facebook is experimenting with products like laser drones to enhance Internet connectivity for users across the world, but there are no plans to bring that to India as of now.
Tags: Facebook, Express WiFi, Public WiFi, ISPs Wifi, Facebook free internet, Internet.org, Free Basics
[“Source-Gadgets”]