Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
businessinsider.co.za
Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
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Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#2"ditches" definitely not the word that should describe this (this is towards the article and not the HN submitter since it's the article's title); it could lead those who don't click to think it's another project Google has shut down.
> “We are transferring our Station operations in South Africa to Think WiFi who will now carry out the project independently,” a spokesperson told Business Insider SA.
> “We'll work with Think Wifi on a plan to transition the service to them, and continue to support them until the end of 2020. We remain committed to looking for ways to make the internet more accessible to users around the world.”
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#3[deleted]
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#4"ditches" definitely not the word that should describe this (this is towards the article and not the HN submitter since it's the article's title); it could lead those who don't click to think it's another project Google has shut down. > “We are transferring our Station operations in South Africa to Think WiFi who will now carry out the project independently,” a spokesperson told Business Insider SA. > “We'll work wit…
If I hand my child over to someone else to raise forever, I'm ditching them. :p
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#5I don't really know why Google, a company, is doing what should be done by the government with no clear benefit to the bottom line. This is not to say they shouldn’t do this, but if you look at it that way, it shouldn't be surprising at all.
If they really wanted to help they probably should have teamed up with the government to ensure that there is government buy in to the program.
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#6"ditches" definitely not the word that should describe this (this is towards the article and not the HN submitter since it's the article's title); it could lead those who don't click to think it's another project Google has shut down. > “We are transferring our Station operations in South Africa to Think WiFi who will now carry out the project independently,” a spokesperson told Business Insider SA. > “We'll work wit…
If I hand my child over to someone else to raise forever, I'm ditching them. :p
A 3 month old at that
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#7"ditches" definitely not the word that should describe this (this is towards the article and not the HN submitter since it's the article's title); it could lead those who don't click to think it's another project Google has shut down. > “We are transferring our Station operations in South Africa to Think WiFi who will now carry out the project independently,” a spokesperson told Business Insider SA. > “We'll work wit…
If I hand my child over to someone else to raise forever, I'm ditching them. :p
wtf?
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#8Google gets just a little bit shittier, every day. Amazing.
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#9I don't really know why Google, a company, is doing what should be done by the government with no clear benefit to the bottom line. This is not to say they shouldn’t do this, but if you look at it that way, it shouldn't be surprising at all. If they really wanted to help they probably should have teamed up with the government to ensure that there is government buy in to the program.
More people using web -> more ad revenue for Google
Re: Google ditches its free WiFi service in South Africa, three months after launch
#10I don't really know why Google, a company, is doing what should be done by the government with no clear benefit to the bottom line. This is not to say they shouldn’t do this, but if you look at it that way, it shouldn't be surprising at all. If they really wanted to help they probably should have teamed up with the government to ensure that there is government buy in to the program.
It's pretty cheap and offers branding, data, ad impressions, and the opportunity to upsell other Google services. The government is very ineffectual in these areas, if it even exists beyond a name. These services will never happen without big companies starting them.
At least Google tried, and it looks like they're able to hand it off to another company that can keep it running now.