Google, AmericaNet and Linktel betting on public Wi-Fi in Brazil

Google, in partnership with telecom provider America Net and Wi-Fi company Linktel, is betting on providing free public Wi-Fi hotspots in Brazilian cities through its Google Station program.

For Google, monetization will come through banner ads from private companies on users’ smartphones when they connect to the network.

The company announced at an event in Brazil on Thursday that it was activating 80 such stations in parks, squares and public transportation stations and stops in the city of São Paulo.

Google also plans to take its Google Stations to other places in Brazil.

In Latin America, the service was previously only available in Mexico, although it was also in operation in Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The initiative may compete with free public Wi-Fi programs carried out by Brazilian municipalities, including in São Paulo, where the local administration also has an advertising-based monetization program through the Wi-FI Livre program, which is currently seeking private partners.

Three companies have so far signed up to operate hotspots under this program: WCS, Surf Telecom and America Net, the latter of which is also a partner in Google’s initiative.

São Paulo aims to take free Wi-Fi hotspots to over 600 sites in the next two years.

WAZE

Google also said that São Paulo is the world city that most commonly uses Waze, with over 4.5mn active users.

Globally, the company reports 115mn users per month. According to the Google service, Brazil ranks seventh for worst traffic in the world.