Google’s Project Fi is unifying the world’s wireless networks

Google recently announced a deal with European cellular carrier, Three, bringing the tech giant one step closer to unifying the world’s wireless networks. The partnership will provide smartphones with a faster, more reliable, and less expensive signal.

Called Project Fi, Google’s experimental service will allow Americans wireless connection when traveling in an additional 15 countries, bringing the total number of foreign countries where the service is available to more than 135. At the same time, the company is removing the speed cap that previously limited the service overseas. 

Image source: Google.

Unveiled last year on Google’s Nexus phones, Project Fi doesn’t just offer a way of making calls over Wi-Fi networks inside homes, offices, and coffee shops. As you leave Wi-Fi coverage, it can also automatically move those calls onto a cellular network. More importantly, it’s capable of moving phones between disparate cellular networks, depending on which offers the best signal, and it does this all for a small, flat fee.

At first the service allowed phones to work between Sprint and T-Mobile. Soon after, Google added U.S. Cellular, and now, through its deal with Three, the technology giant has extended its reach much farther. According to John Maletis, Project Fi’s head of operations, Google can now reach about 97% of markets where Americans travel abroad.

Through T-Mobile, Project Fi provided service in more than 120 countries worldwide, establishing foreign networks. In an effort to keep costs down, Google throttled overseas traffic to 256 megabits per second. The company is now lifting this throttle to provide 10 to 20 times faster network speeds for travelers.

Unlike other wireless servers, Project Fi costs the same no matter what network you’re on and no matter where you're located. For every gigabyte downloaded, there’s a standard fee of $10.

According to Maletis, Google has no plans to expand the service to other phones. Currently Project Fi is only available to Nexus buyers based in the U.S.

Source: Wired