(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/GoodLifeStudio)
While many of us outside the United States wait for Project Fi to become available in our countries, Google has quietly improved international data speeds for current Project Fi customers.
Starting today, Google says Project Fi subscribers can access high-speed data in more than 135 destinations. This improvement follows the addition of Three to Project Fi’s network, which Google states will deliver data speeds 10–20 times faster than before.
With this expansion, Project Fi now covers more than a dozen additional countries. Customers can still use data abroad without paying extra fees, continuing to be charged the same base rate of $10 per GB they pay at home.
“The data we have access to when traveling abroad often isn’t fast or affordable enough to let us do the tasks that matter most. That could explain why only 20% of Americans use cellular data while traveling internationally, instead relying on Wi‑Fi hotspots or buying local SIM cards,” Google wrote in a blog post.
The five international cities most visited by Project Fi subscribers are:
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London
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Paris
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Berlin
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Tokyo
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Montreal
Three is Google’s first international network partner for Project Fi. In the United States, Google recently added US Cellular as a partner, marking its third domestic partner. Before these additions, Google reported that Fi users could get a cellular signal about 99% of the time, with 4G LTE available roughly 95% of the time.
Outside the U.S., Project Fi customers previously experienced throttled speeds around 256 kbps, so the upgrade to high-speed data is significant for frequent travelers. Faster international speeds enable everyday tasks many travelers expect: streaming video, video calls, reliable turn-by-turn navigation, quicker access to email attachments, and easier uploading of photos and videos while on the move.
If this announcement encourages you to join Project Fi, Google is offering a limited-time promotion of $150 off the Nexus 6P when you buy and activate the device with Project Fi within the next week.
Are you impressed so far with Project Fi? Let us know in the comments.