Google offers free high-speed fiber internet to low-cost homes

Mumbai: Search engine giant Google has always been known for its global philanthropic activities, which have helped several communities around the world learn and reap the benefits of modern technology.

Now the California-based company, in a move to provide free high-speed internet to low-income groups, has started rolling out its ‘Gigabit Internet Service’ connection to approximately 100 low-cost homes in the US.

The connections are being provided under the joint partnership of Google and ConnectHome—an initiative by the US Department of Housing and Development (HUD) and the White House to accelerate Internet adoption by families with school-age children in public housing communities in the US.

Working side by side with the Housing Authority of Kansas, the company announced on Wednesday that it had outfitted 100 homes at the West Bluff public housing with free Google fiber connection.

The Kansas housing society became the first of many to receive gigabit (1000Mbps) internet under the program. According to the company, families can now sign up to receive the services for free.

In a blog post, Google Fiber vice president, Dennis Kish said: “Across Kansas City, we’re working with local affordable housing providers to connect up to nine properties, reaching more than 1,300 families in the metro area.”

“Looking forward, we plan to bring gigabit Internet to select affordable housing in all of our Fiber cities. We’re working with local providers to identify which properties we’ll connect across these markets, and we’ll have more to share as we bring Google Fiber to these cities,” he added.

Can India expect similar benefits?

In 2016, Google is planning to expand two-fold and make their services available in potential markets around the world and the company has got a  lot of plans in store for India.

Even though the services are only for American cities, the day is not far where the company might just introduce a similar program in India. For instance, if the company’s Loon Project sees the day’s sunlight, it will offer affordable internet connection to millions in the country.

Also, Google had announced that it will offer free high-speed Wi-Fi at 500 railway stations across the country and already a few important stations have got access to the free Wi-Fi service.

Citing all these plans, there is a huge possibility that Google might announce free high-speed internet plans in India very soon.