By Pascal Oparada
Google has launched Google Station in Nigeria. It is a service that provides free, high quality, high speed Wifi hotspots.
“Today, we’re announcing Google Station for Nigeria: a program to provide high-quality, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in partnership with 21st Century, one of the largest fiber network providers in Nigeria,” the company said in a blog post.
According to the company, Google Station will be rolling out in 200 locations in five cities across Nigeria by the end of 2019, bringing Wi-Fi to millions of people. Sites will include markets, transport hubs, shopping malls, universities and more. Nigeria is the fifth country in which it is launching Google Station, after India, Indonesia, Thailand and Mexico.
Google Station is now live at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA) 2, Lekki, Computer Village, The Palms, Lemmings, University of Lagos, and the Landmark event centre with more locations coming.
Access to the internet in Africa is growing but it’s still limited. Only 35 percent of Africans have access to the web, compared to 48 percent in Asia, 67 in Latin America, 85 in Europe and 95 in North America. Many internet users in Africa don’t have Wi-Fi in their homes, relying instead on the few public Wi-Fi hotspots to connect, communicate and learn, Google said.
Google is also making search more powerful for ordinary Africans.
‘Job search’ launched in March in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, and is now rolling out in 29 new countries.
In Nigeria, Google is launching a search experience that allows users to explore health conditions based on symptoms, as well as recipe search for anyone who needs a little food inspiration.
Early this month, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Google headquarters in California, the United States to strengthen the company’s presence in Nigeria.
