Which Indian telecom network partnered with Google to expand its Wi-Fi footprint across the country?

Introduction / Context:
Public Wi-Fi projects are an important part of digital infrastructure, allowing users to access the internet in public places like railway stations, markets and campuses. Technology companies sometimes partner with telecom operators to roll out Wi-Fi hotspots. This question asks about the Indian telecom network that partnered with Google to expand its Wi-Fi footprint in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question mentions a partnership with Google aimed at expanding Wi-Fi coverage.
- The options include Jio, BSNL, Idea and Airtel, all of which are major telecom players in India.
- We assume the learner may recall news about Google working with a state run operator on Wi-Fi projects in addition to its partnerships with RailTel.

Concept / Approach:
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, or BSNL, is a government owned telecom company in India. Google entered into a partnership with BSNL to expand Wi-Fi services at various locations across the country, complementing earlier initiatives like providing Wi-Fi at railway stations. This collaboration aimed to use BSNL infrastructure together with Google technology to provide better public internet access.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that BSNL is the state owned telecom company that often collaborates with other public sector or global technology firms on large infrastructure projects. Step 2: Remember media reports that highlighted Google working with BSNL to expand Wi-Fi hotspots beyond railway stations and into other public areas. Step 3: Compare this with Jio, Idea and Airtel, which have run their own Wi-Fi or broadband initiatives but are not centrally mentioned in the specific partnership with Google described in current affairs notes. Step 4: Based on this recall, select BSNL as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Current affairs compilations and technology news articles reported that BSNL and Google had joined hands to expand public Wi-Fi services in India. These reports described the use of Google's technology and BSNL's network for wider coverage. No similar news item described Jio, Idea or Airtel as Google's primary partner for this particular public Wi-Fi expansion project, which confirms that BSNL is the answer expected in exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jio: While Jio has aggressively rolled out 4G and fibre services and offers its own Wi-Fi solutions, it is not the telecom network named in the specific partnership with Google discussed in this static question.

Idea: Before its merger with Vodafone, Idea focused mainly on mobile services and is not associated with the highlighted Google Wi-Fi collaboration.

Airtel: Airtel is a major private operator with its own broadband and Wi-Fi products, but current affairs sources did not present it as Google's key partner in this particular initiative.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose Jio or Airtel because of their strong presence in the consumer market and aggressive marketing. However, this question tests recall of a specific public Wi-Fi partnership widely reported at the time, where BSNL, the public sector operator, was the named partner. Carefully reading questions that mention collaborations or memoranda of understanding helps avoid such branding based confusion.

Final Answer:
The telecom network that partnered with Google to expand its Wi-Fi footprint in India is BSNL.