Google has announced the discontinuation of its Station program, which provided free Wi-Fi at over 400 railway stations in India and more than 5000 locations worldwide since its inception in 2016, according to TechCrunch. The service, currently operational in Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, the Philippines, Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, will be phased out globally throughout the year.
The decision to terminate the Station program was motivated by challenges in scaling up and establishing a sustainable business model. Google collaborated with various partners in each market, such as RailTel, Indian Railways, and Pune Smart City in India, and Think WiFi in South Africa. The diverse technical and infrastructure requirements of these partnerships contributed to the program’s complexity.
Google also cited the changing landscape with the increased prevalence of 4G networks and the declining cost of mobile data worldwide since the program’s launch in 2016. The implication is that the demand for free Wi-Fi has diminished, as users have more affordable and accessible options. Previous attempts to monetize the service through ad displays to users signing in were not sufficient to sustain the program in the evolving market.
The Station program’s conclusion marks a shift in Google’s strategy as it adapts to changing global connectivity dynamics.
transition existing sites so they can remain useful resources for the community.
Google says
Google has announced plans to collaborate with its partners to facilitate the seamless transition of existing sites, ensuring their continued usefulness for the community. In India, RailTel has confirmed to TechCrunch that it will maintain the provision of free Wi-Fi in railway stations previously covered by Google. RailTel extends Wi-Fi services to over 5,600 stations nationwide. In South Africa, Google’s spokesperson informed Business Insider that operations would be handed over to Think WiFi, with the assurance that “free WiFi is here to stay” at those locations, as confirmed by Think WiFi to ITWeb. Google emphasizes that the decision to continue providing free Wi-Fi will be at the discretion of its partners.
The Station service garnered popularity, boasting 8 million monthly users as of June 2018, with individuals consuming an average of 350MB of data per session. Over half of the Station users connected multiple times a day, highlighting its significance as a community resource.
The initiative, launched in late 2015, aimed to increase internet accessibility in India by providing services at 400 train stations across the country. Starting with Mumbai Central in January 2016, the project officially became Google Station later that year, expanding partnerships to include cafes and malls. Despite achieving the initial goal of 400 stations in June 2018, Google acknowledges that its commitment to enhancing connectivity remains unfinished.
In South Africa, Google initiated Station in November 2019, spanning 125 locations, as reported by ITWeb. The recent announcement indicates Google’s decision to wind down the service just over three months after its initial launch in the country.
Google’s efforts to facilitate internet access in developing markets align with broader industry initiatives. Facebook, through the Internet.org project founded in 2013, aimed to enhance internet accessibility. In 2016, Facebook introduced Express Wi-Fi in India, responding to the ban on its previous internet service in the country. Innovations in overcoming unreliable fixed infrastructure include Alphabet’s Project Loon, leveraging stratospheric helium balloons, and Facebook’s exploration of solar-powered internet drones. The industry continues to explore creative solutions to bridge the digital divide in underserved regions.
