Google plans to bring wireless Internet to a billion or so new users in emerging markets, Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The Mountain View, CA. based company, is employing a patchwork quilt of technologies and holding discussions with regulators from South Africa to Kenya, the report noted.
The sources are said to be individuals familiar with the matter, with the unnamed people saying that Google will both fund and partially run wireless Internet networks in emerging markets. Some of the places specified include locations in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, giving connectivity to individuals who can't access the Internet primarily only available in the large cities.
Google is "deep in the throes" of the effort to build wireless networks for people outside major cities where wired Internet connections are scarce, according to the report.
It said Google plans to team up with local companies in some of the countries to develop the networks, and formulate business models to support them.
"Connecting more people to the Web world-wide creates more potential users of its Web-search engine and other services such as YouTube and its Google Play media and app store. More than half of the world's population doesn't use the Web, particularly in developing nations, researchers say," the report noted.
In addition to the wireless technology, Google is developing low-cost Android phones to sell in these new markets. Google has reportedly been developing cheap, low-energy smartphones running Android for the WiFi networks. In addition, blimps or similar balloon-like structures called high-altitude platforms are in development, and will be used for signal transmission over long distances in remote areas.
