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Internet giant Google and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s global bank, have inked a partnership for the launch of Google Station in 11 key UBA branches in Lagos State to kick-start the rollout of 200 stations across the country.
Google Station, a platform for providing free, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in public places, began in Lagos last year, and extended to Abuja in December in partnership with Backbone Connectivity Network.
Designed by the internet giant to expand internet access to more people and create critical mass of connectivity that could particularly help SMBs [small, medium businesses], the Google Station is a simple set of tools to roll-out Wi-Fi hotspots in more places where more people spend time, such as bus stations, shopping malls, airports and public transit stations.
In Lagos inside UBA, Google Station will provide free high speed internet to customers in 11 branches Ikeja, Lekki, Daleko; Lagos Island, Matori, Surulere, and Apapa among others.
“It is an interesting platform which will ultimately benefit everyone. It is a win-win for everyone. Customers will have ease of doing businesses, especially with the growing use of smart phones, and the 52 million Nigerians who have otherwise been financially excluded will now have access to data through this collaboration and can carry out their transactions with ease,” said UBA’s Executive Director/ Group CEO, Mr. Chuks Nweke, at the official launch of the initiative inside UBA’s Head Office in Lagos.
“Interestingly, SMEs, who previously had challenges with funding can now do other things which they couldn’t achieve before, such as accounting services and others. Also, UBA recently launched an educational app, and so, students will be able to use these Google Station platform to carry out their necessary research from the comfort of their homes, it is an awesome opportunity with benefits for everyone which we are presenting to our customers in line with our customer first philosophy,” added Nweke.
“With the help of our partners, we are offering high-quality internet access in heavily-trafficked areas like airports, markets, malls and bus stations throughout the country, especially in areas where there were no internet connections before.
“Even with the amazing progress on expanding mobile internet, we are finding that public Wi-Fi remains a crucial step in getting free, high quality internet to everyone,” said Google Nigeria’s Country Director, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor.
“Deploying Google Station in collaboration with UBA and 21st Century is an important step to connecting the next billion users. As a result of the locations enables us to be up-and-running in no time. Even more, their WiFi signal ensures connectivity to Google Station hotspots so users can do a lot of things online and be constantly connected,” said Google’s Director of Product Management, Josh Woodward.
