Cisco joins Google Station platform to offer free WiFi access across India

California-based networking major Cisco Systems is partnering with Google to provide free public WiFi across India on the Google Station platform.

The announcement was made at the Cisco India Summit 2019 in Kochi, an official statement said today. 

The project will help people access free, high-speed Internet at public spaces like bus-stops, hospitals and government offices, the announcement added.

First launched in January 2016 at the Mumbai Central railway station, Google Station is a platform that enables technology partners to set up WiFi hotspots in public places. Google generally provides software and hardware support to deploy WiFi services by leveraging fibre connections. 

Cisco is planning to deploy WiFi hubs at 200 locations in Bengaluru by September 2019. Another 300 locations will be provided with WiFi services during later phases, the statement added.

“We are excited to partner with Google to bring free, open, high-quality internet access to everyone in India,” Sameer Garde, president, Cisco India & SAARC, said.

“This also represents a significant growth opportunity, the demand for public Wi-Fi hotspots is expected to go up by 100X over the next 3 years, creating new markets for Cisco and our partners.” 

Google Station platform has collaborated with public sector enterprises like the RailTel Corporation of India and Indian Railways. 

In 2018, Google had partnered with Larsen & Toubro and IBM to set up 150 Google Station WiFi hotspots in Pune as part of a project spearheaded by Pune Smart City Development Corporation. 

Last year, the networking giant Cisco acquired July Systems, a cloud-based mobile solutions provider, to expand its WiFi offerings. 

Apart from partnering to offer high-speed internet access at public spaces, Google and Cisco have also collaborated to develop a hybrid cloud solution programme. Early access to the programme was launched in June.