Express Wi-Fi
{{Short description|Division of Facebook Connectivity}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Express Wi-Fi by Facebook
| logo = Express Wi-Fi by Facebook.png
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| logo_alt = Express Wi-Fi by Facebook
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| area_served = Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, and Tanzania
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| owner = Facebook Connectivity
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes/no|2016|08}}
| current_status = Launched
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Express Wi-Fi was 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 February 2022, Meta announced that Express Wi-Fi will be shut down, globally.{{Cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/meta-is-shutting-down-its-express-wi-fi-service/ |title=Meta is shutting down its Express Wi-Fi service | date=Feb 1, 2022 |publisher=techradar}}
Operating locations and local partnerships
=Ghana=
Service was offered in partnership with Vodafone Ghana in various regions of Ghana.{{Cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/02/01/facebook-brings-express-wi-fi-to-ghana-quietly-expands-free-basics-to-morocco-and-laos/ |title=Facebook brings Express Wi-Fi to Ghana | date=Feb 1, 2019 |publisher=VentureBeat}}
=India=
Service was offered in partnership with internet service providers AirJaldi, LMES, NetVision, Tikona and Shaildhar.{{Cite web |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/telecom/news/express-wi-fi-by-facebook-launched-commercially-in-india-airtel-to-launch-20-000-hotspots-1689507 |title=Express Wi-Fi by Facebook Launched Commercially in India; Airtel to Launch 20,000 Hotspots | date=May 4, 2017 | publisher=NDTV Gadgets360.com |language=en |access-date=Jan 4, 2019}} in Rajasthan, Uttrakhand, Gujarat, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
=Indonesia=
Service was 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.{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/15/facebook-express-wi-fi-app/ |title=Facebook launches Express Wi-Fi app for its local-operated hotspots | publisher=TechCrunch}}{{Cite web |url=https://expresswifi.fb.com/ |title=Express Wi-Fi | publisher=Facebook |access-date=Feb 28, 2019}}
=Kenya=
Service was 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.{{Cite news |url=https://citizentv.co.ke/business/facebook-launches-low-cost-internet-service-express-wifi-in-kenya-162150/ |title=Facebook launches low-cost internet service, Express Wifi, in Kenya |work=Citizentv.co.ke |access-date=Jan 9, 2018 |language=en-US}}
= Nepal =
Services were offered in Nepal through partnerships with Worldlink{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Wi-Fi Express: Free WorldLink Wi-Fi - WorldLink Communications Ltd. |url=https://worldlink.com.np/wi-fi-express-free-worldlink-wi-fi/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=worldlink.com.np |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Nepali |date=2020-10-15 |title=WorldLink & Facebook Connectivity Express Wi-Fi |url=https://nepalitimes.com/business/worldlink-facebook-connectivity-express-wi-fi |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=nepalitimes.com}} and Microsoft Nepal. {{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Worldlink used 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. {{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
=Nigeria=
Service was offered in partnership with local internet service providers Tizeti.{{Cite news |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/07/yc-backed-tizeti-partners-with-facebook-to-expand-express-wifi-in-nigeria/ |title=Tizeti partners with Facebook to expand Express Wi-Fi in Nigeria|access-date=Jan 9, 2018 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |url=https://technext.ng/2017/11/08/express-w-fi-by-facebook-in-nigeria-expands-by-partnership-with-tizeti/ |title=Express Wi-Fi By Facebook Partners With Tizeti to Expand Coverage in Nigeria |access-date=Jan 9, 2018}}
=Philippines=
Service was offered in partnership with Globe Telecom, a major provider of telecommunications services in the Philippines.
=South Africa=
Service was offered in partnership with CellC, a telecommunication company in South Africa
=Tanzania=
Service was offered in partnership with Habari, an internet service provider.
= Brazil & LaTAM =
Server was offered in partnership with Hughes, a satellite 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,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-12-16/edgecore-networks-joins-facebook-connectivity-s-express-wi-fi-channel-partner-program|title = Edgecore Networks Joins Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Channel Partner Program|newspaper = Bloomberg.com|date = 16 December 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://engineering.fb.com/2019/02/25/connectivity/mobile-world-congress-2019/|title=Enabling better global connectivity through new partnerships and technologies|date=25 February 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://code.fb.com/connectivity/express-wi-fi-certified-enabling-connections-that-matter/ |title=Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner program: Getting more people online with fast and affordable Wi-Fi |date=Aug 28, 2018 |website=code.fb.com}} In February 2019, Nokia announced that Nokia AirScale Wi-Fi platform would also participate in the technology partner program.{{Cite news |url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/25/1741422/0/en/Nokia-joins-Facebook-s-Express-Wi-Fi-Technology-Partner-program-to-build-better-Wi-Fi-networks.html |title=Nokia joins Facebook's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner program to build better Wi-Fi networks |date=Feb 25, 2019 |website=Globe Newswire}}
In 2020, the Italian software company Tanaza has joined Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program.{{Cite news |url=https://www.totaltele.com/505049/Tanaza-joins-Facebook-Connectivitys-Express-Wi-Fi-Technology-Partner-Program |title=Tanaza joins Facebook Connectivity's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program |date=Feb 26, 2020 |website=Total Telecom}}
In 2021, Abloomy, a US-based cloud Wi-Fi management software company, has joined Facebook's Express Wi-Fi Technology Partner Program.
References
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