Here’s How Google Tells Us India Is a Slow Internet Speed Country

India’s internet is not up to the mark, and Google is making sure we get faster speeds.

Sundar Pichai at the Google for India event. (Photo: The Quint)

Sundar Pichai made his first visit to India recently as CEO of Google Inc. Much was expected from the Google for India event. It didn’t take long for Pichai to recall his upbringing in India, and how he felt the need to give back to the country where it all started for him.

This country (India) has given me and Google so much. So, now it’s our turn to work for the betterment of the people of India.

Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google Inc

This promise will unfold with services like free WiFi at railway stations, Project Loon, and better access to internet across the country.

But wait, isn’t the government supposed to make sure people across the country are provided seamless internet service? While the likes of Airtel, Reliance talk about the 4G-effect in India, Google has no clue about it (or so it seems), which is why their focus is solely on 2G, or providing faster internet speeds.

In sum, Google is telling us to forget about 4G right now, and worry about getting decent internet speeds first.

Get 2G First, then we’ll talk about 4G

The sign of 2G was ever present at the Google for India event. (Photo: The Quint)

It was interesting to see Google talk about India as a growing market, but lacking in its internet infrastructure.

We want to ensure that people in India get consistent internet at high speed for which we’re first looking to provide seamless Google products on 2G network.

Tamar Yehoshua, Vice-President, Product Management, Google

This reality check may come across as a blow to most of us, but truth be told, Google is talking about what we already knew. The internet situation is dire to say the least and Google’s guidance and support can only work in our favour.

Tamar talked about Google’s effort to get search accessible, on 2G or any low network area in the country.

Let’s talk 2G. (Photo: Imgflip)

We Are Google’s Lab Rats

Google tests features made for slow internet in India. (Photo: imgflip)

Time and time again, Google has used India as a pilot-testing market, but mostly they’re related to services which require slow internet. The search-engine giant has been running special 2G speed tests back in the US to acclimatise and fix issues with services tailor-made for our country.

While it’s good that Google is heavily invested in India, but do we deserve to be a test country, only because we get slow internet speed? Not cool.

YouTube Videos Will Show Data Size Downloaded

Yep. This might be your worst nightmare turning into reality. YouTube will soon provide users in India with the option to check how much data is being consumed by a video. So, while you pause-to-buffer, get ready to see your data limit eaten up, in front of your eyes.

This way, your mobile plan fair usage policy will go for a toss, which will result in snail pace internet network for the period.

Your monthly data limit over? You’re not alone. (Photo: imgflip)

Google Working to Make Wi-Fi Available at Railway Stations

Soon, you will be able to stream videos on YouTube at railway stations all thanks to Google. (Photo: Reuters)

By early 2016, Mumbai Central will become Google’s first hub for the free WiFi in India project. The service is provided via various access points in the area, which in return offers WiFi to the public free of cost. Yes, you heard that right.

This process will be undertaken at 99 more stations in the country next year. What does Google have to say about the speed of the WiFi? It’s going to be faster than the average internet speed in India, i.e. 512KB/s.

It’s hard to understand why nobody else could have thought about it, and a major corporate like Google was enforced to put its foot forward. Well, as they say, it happens only in India.