News

Google allowing Starbucks to offer faster Wi-Fi

August 1, 2013

Starbucks has selected Google to provide the next generation of its Wi-Fi offering for its customers. Beginning this month, new U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores will begin to receive up to 10 times faster network and Wi-Fi speeds, according to a company press release. Over the next 18 months, Starbucks will convert more than 7,000 U.S. stores to the upgraded store network and Wi-Fi experience.

"Every day, our customers rely on the free Wi-Fi at Starbucks to study, work, connect with friends or just relax. We want to make sure that they can access the web effortlessly and quickly, no matter what they're doing, or what device they are using," Adam Brotman, chief digital officer, Starbucks, said in the release. "Our goal is to continue to provide our customers with the best in-store experience possible, and we are excited to offer these kinds of unparalleled experiences at a broad scale."

In addition to providing faster Wi-Fi, Starbucks and Google will also work together to co-develop the next-generation Starbucks Digital Network.

"Google has always invested in projects that help the Internet grow stronger, including projects that make Internet access more affordable and more widely available. We hope that speedier Internet will make the time customers spend at Starbucks even more enjoyable and productive," said Kevin Lo, the general manager of Google Access.

Starbucks and Google will work with Level 3 Communications, an international telecommunications company, to bring faster Wi-Fi connectivity to Starbucks stores. Level 3 will upgrade existing Wi-Fi devices and will manage in-store connectivity in more than 7,000 company-owned stores across the nation.

Read more about technology.