Express Wi-Fi Explained

Express Wi-Fi by Facebook
Logo Alt:Express Wi-Fi by Facebook
Area Served:Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, and Tanzania
Content Licence:-->
Owner:Facebook Connectivity
Current Status:Launched

Express Wi-Fi is a division within Facebook Connectivity, which is a group of global internet connectivity initiatives by Meta. It is one of several programs under the Facebook Connectivity umbrella. It partners with mobile network operators and internet service providers to provide internet access via public Wi-Fi hotspots.

In October 2020, Express Wi-Fi was active in Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, and Tanzania.[1] [2] [3]

Operating locations and local partnerships

Ghana

Service offered in partnership with Vodafone Ghana in various regions of Ghana.[4]

India

Service offered in partnership with internet service providers AirJaldi, LMES, NetVision, Tikona and Shaildhar.[5] in Rajasthan, Uttrakhand, Gujarat, Mizoram and Meghalaya.

Indonesia

Service is offered in partnership with D~Net, an internet service provider, enabling Facebook and D~NET to establish a presence in city of Surabaya and Sugro, a village in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.[6] [7]

Kenya

Service is offered in partnership with SURF, and BRCK since 2019, an internet service provider. Express Wi-Fi was launched in Kenya on March 29, 2017, providing 1000 Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the greater Nairobi area.[8]

Nepal

Services are offered in Nepal through partnerships with Worldlink[9] [10] and Microsoft Nepal.

Worldlink uses the Express Wi-Fi platform to support 7,500 of their 10,000 hotspot locations across the country and plans to expand their coverage to more rural areas using this partnership.

The collaboration with Microsoft Nepal provides service to Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Bharatpur.

Nigeria

Service offered in partnership with local internet service providers Tizeti.[11] [12]

Philippines

Service offered in partnership with Globe Telecom, a major provider of telecommunications services in the Philippines.

South Africa

Service offered in partnership with CellC, a telecommunication company in South Africa

Tanzania

Service offered in partnership with Habari, an internet service provider.

Technology partners

In August 2018, Express Wi-Fi by Facebook announced a technology partnership program. The program allows access point manufacturers to produce and supply Wi-Fi hardware that is compatible with Express Wi-Fi. Program participants include Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS Company, Cisco Systems, Inc. (to be certified Oct 2019), Arista Networks, Cambium Networks, Edge-core Networks by Accton Technology Corporation,[13] [14] [15] In February 2019, Nokia announced that Nokia AirScale Wi-Fi platform would also participate in the technology partner program.[16]

In 2020, the Italian software company Tanaza has joined Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program.[17]

In 2021, Abloomy, a US-based cloud Wi-Fi management software company, has joined Facebook's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Express Wi-Fi by Facebook launches commercially in India . May 4, 2017. DeccanChronicle . en . Jan 2, 2019.
  2. Web site: Facebook inks partnerships to bring more people online . Feb 25, 2019 . VentureBeat . en.
  3. Web site: Facebook's Express WiFi in Nepal.
  4. Web site: Facebook brings Express Wi-Fi to Ghana . Feb 1, 2019 . VentureBeat.
  5. Web site: Express Wi-Fi by Facebook Launched Commercially in India; Airtel to Launch 20,000 Hotspots . May 4, 2017 . NDTV Gadgets360.com . en . Jan 4, 2019.
  6. Web site: Facebook launches Express Wi-Fi app for its local-operated hotspots . TechCrunch.
  7. Web site: Express Wi-Fi . Facebook . Feb 28, 2019.
  8. News: Facebook launches low-cost internet service, Express Wifi, in Kenya . Citizentv.co.ke . Jan 9, 2018 . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2023-03-31 . Wi-Fi Express: Free WorldLink Wi-Fi - WorldLink Communications Ltd. . 2023-12-15 . worldlink.com.np . en-US.
  10. Web site: Times . Nepali . 2020-10-15 . WorldLink & Facebook Connectivity Express Wi-Fi . 2023-12-15 . nepalitimes.com.
  11. News: Tizeti partners with Facebook to expand Express Wi-Fi in Nigeria. Jan 9, 2018 . en-US.
  12. News: Express Wi-Fi By Facebook Partners With Tizeti to Expand Coverage in Nigeria . Jan 9, 2018.
  13. News: Edgecore Networks Joins Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Channel Partner Program. Bloomberg.com. 16 December 2020.
  14. Web site: Enabling better global connectivity through new partnerships and technologies. 25 February 2019.
  15. News: Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner program: Getting more people online with fast and affordable Wi-Fi . Aug 28, 2018 . code.fb.com.
  16. News: Nokia joins Facebook's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner program to build better Wi-Fi networks . Feb 25, 2019 . Globe Newswire.
  17. News: Tanaza joins Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program . Feb 26, 2020 . Total Telecom.