2014-08-12

If things move as planned, Bhubaneswar will soon join the league of cities in the country boasting of WiFi connectivity.

For implementing the project, the state IT department has engaged Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as the consultant. The state government will bear the cost of implementing the project. The revenue model will be worked out in consultation with STPI.

The entire capital city will be WiFi enabled and STPI has been asked to prepare a detailed project report. A proof of concept (PoC) study will be conducted at four to five places within the city. However, there will be no fully free WiFi zone in the city,” said Pranab Prakash Das, state IT minister. Das claimed that Bhubaneswar will be the first city in the country to be completely WiFi enabled.

WiFi services may be considered free of cost for about 20-30 minutes in a day as introduced in other cities.

The move for making the city WiFi enabled gained momentum after chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave his nod to the plan of the IT department for ensuring seamless connectivity.

STIP to Conduct Feasibility Study

As per the IT department, it is essential to make a detailed feasibility study, making available various advanced technologies, imbibing best practices in other cities if any, examine requirement of PoC study and sustainability of the project before executing this project.

Sources said, STPI will be studying the best practices adopted by the cities both in the country and abroad. It is currently working on the proposal of the state government and will submit the Terms of Reference (ToR).

Other WiFi-enabled Cities in India

Other cities having WiFi connectivity are Patna having 20 km free WiFi zone, Bangalore (Mahatma Gandhi Road and Brigade Road), Hyderbad and Connaught Place area of the national capital New Delhi. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had tied up with telecom service provider Tata Docomo to offer WiFi services at the posh Connaught Place locality.

Gujarat has already set up 8 WiFi-enabled zones while Mumbai is planning to follow suit.

What are your thoughts on this development?

Courtesy: Business Standard

The post Bhubaneswar to Become a WiFi-enabled City Soon appeared first on My Bhubaneswar.

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