Express Wi-Fi

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.

Operating locations and local partnerships

Ghana

Service offered in partnership with Vodafone Ghana in various regions of Ghana.

India

Service offered in partnership with internet service providers AirJaldi, LMES, NetVision, Tikona and Shaildhar. 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.

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.

Nepal

Services are offered in Nepal through partnerships with Worldlink 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.

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, In February 2019, Nokia announced that Nokia AirScale Wi-Fi platform would also participate in the technology partner program.

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

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

References