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Bengaluru Gears For Free Wi-Fi As Agencies Prepare To Setup 5,938 Hotspots Across The City

Once setup and working, the plan will ensure citizens of Bengaluru would be getting free (and hopefully seamless) Wi-Fi connectivity for the first 30 minutes.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has shortlisted 5,938 hotspots and 4 agencies to offer seamless Internet connectivity across the city possibly in the coming months. BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad has approved the project and recently met with officials of Indus Tower, Honeycomb, DVOIS and ACT, to discuss and iron out the issues with the project. The most glaring issue, for the agencies, for now seems to be the installation charge for the Wi-Fi antenna and other equipment which they say is ‘exorbitant.’

While Indus Tower has already started installing the equipment, Honeycomb, DVOIS and ACT have reportedly taken objection to the installation charge being demanded by the BBMP. According to the agencies, a small Wi-Fi equipment box spread over 2sqft will provide Internet connectivity and the Rs 62,000 (plus 18 per cent GST) installation charge for every such device doesn’t make sense. While Honeycomb and DVOIS have been roped in to setup 2,516 Wi-Fi hotspots, ACT and Indus Tower will be setting up 766 and 140 such towers.

Honeycomb, DVOIS and ACT have reportedly urged the BBMP to levy a cost price of Rs 500 per month per device but the Palike says it would be difficult for it to monitor monthly rates. On basis of the meeting, the agencies have reportedly sought two weeks from the BBMP to examine the locations — across all 198 wards of Bengaluru — for feasibility and footfall. Indus Tower, that has already commenced installation at 60 locations, have reportedly faced opposition from residents while installing the devices at some locations.

Once setup and working, the plan will ensure citizens of Bengaluru would be getting free (and hopefully seamless) Wi-Fi connectivity for the first 30 minutes. Post the 30 minutes quota, users will need to pay commercial rates as set by TRAI, for using the service.

The ambitious plan to offer free Wi-Fi across Bengaluru has been a long time coming but the Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had in September announced that the service will go live in the next six months, seemingly suggesting that the plan was finally on the fast-track route. – India Today

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