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UBA partners Google to provide free Wi-Fi to customers

14 Feb 2019, 03:07 pm
Financial Nigeria
UBA partners Google to provide free Wi-Fi to customers

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Google's high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots will provide UBA's customers with internet connectivity at 11 key branches of the bank in Lagos.

United Bank for Africa head office, Marina, Lagos,,

United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA) has collaborated with Google Nigeria and 21st Century Technologies Limited, an information communication and technology services provider, to launch Google Station in 11 UBA branches in Lagos.

Speaking at the launch, which took place at UBA’s Head Office on Wednesday, the bank’s Executive Director/Group Chief Operating Officer, Chuks Nweke, said the initiative would benefit everyone.

“It is a win-win for everyone,” said Nweke. "Customers will have ease of doing businesses, especially with the growing use of smart phones, and the 52 million Nigerians who have otherwise been financially excluded will now have access to data through this collaboration and can carry out their transactions with ease."

The Google Stations, according to UBA, will provide customers with internet connectivity at the 11 key branches and its environs, thereby facilitating their day-to-day business activities.

Google Station, launched in 2018, provides free, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in public places. UBA plans to extend the service to Abuja later in December in partnership with Backbone Connectivity Network. It will eventually be rolled out to 200 stations across the country.

The 11 branches where the stations will be located are: UBA Bank Road, 810-811, Daleko; UBA Matori, 21 Fatai Atere Street; UBA Surulere, 152 Ogunlana drive; UBA Allen, 13 Allen Avenue, Ikeja; UBA Tisco Plaza, Alausa; UBA Apapa, 11-13 Warehouse Road, Apapa; and UBA Marina, 55 Marina, Lagos Island.

Others include UBA HQ, Broad Street, Marina; UBA Lekki Admiralty; UBA Oke Arin; and UBA Aspamda Plaza, Trade Fair.

The Country Director of Google Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, noted that despite the progress in mobile internet penetration, public Wi-Fi remains a crucial step in getting free, high-quality internet to everyone.

“With the help of our partners, we are offering high-quality internet access in heavily-trafficked areas like airports, markets, malls and bus stations throughout the country, especially in areas where there were no internet connections before,” she said.

Deploying Google Station in collaboration with UBA and 21st Century Technologies, according to Josh Woodward, Google’s Director of Product Management, is an important step to connecting the next billion users.  


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