In September 2020, Google’s in-house Area 120 incubator introduced Orion WiFi to let public spaces sell Wi-Fi capability to cellular carriers. Google Fi is now using this approach to expand coverage and call it the “W+ network.”
Orion WiFi and Open Roaming
In mid-2021, MVNOs began testing OpenRoaming, in which customers are connected to a “Google Fi Wi-Fi” hotspot “to give”. [them] Coverage in more locations. Notably, when it was in testing, it didn’t count against your data cap. I personally encountered this at an airport last June.
Orion WiFi’s pitch for businesses operating public areas is that they get a “new revenue stream” from their existing network and that it’s free and free to turn on Orion WiFi monetization without “the need for new hardware or software.” it’s easy. At launch Google said “Orion cannot access users’ internet traffic.”
2021
What is Fi’s W+ network
The Google MVNO exited that testing phase last month and now calls it “Fi W+ network.” It shows up in your Pixel’s status bar and Settings app as a “W+” and cellular indicator (approximately below the icon seen below) – even if you have Wi-Fi.
It’s currently only available for Google first-party devices running Android 12 and newer, when you’re in range. The company told us that your phone is doing real-time analysis to make sure you’re getting a high-quality connection. Meanwhile, Fi “never connects automatically when your saved Wi-Fi network, such as your home network, is nearby and available.”
These “selective secure, high-quality Wi-Fi networks” are meant to “improve your mobile data connection” in areas where cellular coverage is lacking. This includes some airports, malls and stadiums, the availability of which has increased over time. This comes as Google stopped automatically connecting Fi users to (new) public Wi-Fi networks last October.
Specifically, W+ “counts against your data cap for the month” and is treated as normal data usage regardless of the actual network technology being used. This is because Google considers W+ to be an extension of the Fi network and this verified connection is better than the low-quality Wi-Fi connection you might encounter. Behind the scenes, Fi is probably paying for the Wi-Fi connection, so it’s somewhat similar to a premium hotspot, which you’ll have to pay for directly.
In an effort to provide our users with the best possible mobile data connection in as many locations as possible, Google Fi has begun automatically connecting users on Android 12 or more to the W+ network, where available. This includes select secure, high-quality Wi-Fi networks, providing our users with coverage in more places where cell signal has traditionally been low, such as airports, malls and stadiums.
google spokesperson
How to turn off Google Fi W+ network
That said, you can get back on the cell network at any time by disabling Wi-Fi.
You can permanently turn off and opt-out of W+ networks by going to the Settings app > Network & Internet > SIM > Google Fi > W+ Connections and toggling that preference. I’m only seeing this today on my Pixel 6 Pro, but Google says the capability is still in the process of releasing as most users don’t have it yet.
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