Google Offers Free WiFi for India: but will they censor content?
Google , Google+ , Guest Post 1
Google has announced that it is to offer free WiFi across
India, in an attempt to promote the use of their social network Google+, and
affiliated sites such as YouTube. There is currently less than 10% Internet
penetration in India, this service will greatly benefit consumers in India. Of
course, it will also benefit Google, whose Android phones are in competition
with other popular smartphones such as the BlackBerry
Bellagio and the Nokia Lumia.
However, the announcement comes at an interesting time,
after Delhi High Court ordered Google India, along with Facebook India, to
moderate their content, or face being blocked. Justice Suresh Kaitsaid “Like
China, we will block all such websites.”
It has been argued in response to this that Google is not
responsible for third-party content, making it unfeasible for the search engine
to really be blocked. Mukul Rohatgi testified that “No human interference is
possible, and moreover, it can’t be feasible to check such incidents. Billions
of people across the globe post their articles on the website. Yes, they may be
dematory, obscene, but cannot be checked.”
It seems that Google in India may be safe for now. But how
will they make sure that people access the Google websites, rather than
competitors? They’re offering the free WiFi on the basis
of unlimited usage of Google+, and ten minutes of access to YouTube. Users who
wish to access other websites will pay by the minute, limiting access to rival
sites such as Facebook and Yahoo.
Google is offering this service in association with O-Zone
Networks. O-Zone Networks CEO Sanjeev Sarin said: “This is a first-of-its-kind
promotional tie-up. This association between Google India and O-Zone Networks
reinforces the fact that people are now realising the power of Wi-Fi.”
For your information, presently O-Zone network has 5,000
Wi-Fi access points across India and these access points includes McDonalds, Café Oz, Cafe Coffee Day Costa
Coffee, Subway, OM Bookshop and Coffee Bean.
What do you think about Google’s move to provide free WiFi
in India, do share your thoughts in comment section below.
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1 comment
A really nice plan, but they have vested interests in this venture