Google Looks to Expand Public WiFi Initiative to Malls, Universities and Cafes

Earlier in June, Google achieved the milestone of providing high-speed public WiFi on 400 railway stations across the country, as part of a deal with the Indian government under the Google RailWire WiFi initiative. Following the successful completion of the RailWire project, Google is now looking to expand its public WiFi program to more venues, which include cafes, universities and shopping malls among other public places with active public movement.

Google is reportedly in talks with potential partners such as internet service providers and telecom operators as well as representatives from different state governments to ink a deal and connect an even larger section of the Indian masses to the internet.

“Telcos are something we are definitely talking toto stop and take another look."

Early years

Thompson was born at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. Richard's father, Abijah Snyder Thompson, was an illustrator and commercial art director for Montgomery Ward in Chicago. At a young age Thompson was introduced to many of his father’s colleagues, sparking an early interest in the arts. He started to draw pencil sketches at age eight after watching his father draw at home in the evening. Richard's father also shared with his son his love for fishing and nature. When it was seasonable, they would travel from Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on weekend fishing trips. The nature scenes he observed on these excursions became subjects for his sketches. At age ten, Richard awoke a couple of hours before his parents