Government to provide free Wi-Fi access in 25 cities

The government is currently looking for ways to provide Wi-Fi access portals at select public places across top 25 cities of the country by 2015.

This roll-out would be in cities with a population of over 10 lakh, and is scheduled for completion before June next year.

Part of the much publicised Digital India programme of the current government, the initiative is expected to take around three to four Wi-Fi service providers under its umbrella, with a view to gain the flexibility needed to ensure that a speedy roll-out happened by June 2015.

The initiative however, would cover only select areas and not entire cities for Wi-Fi access. Under the plans that were envisioned when the Digital India programme was first introduced, the aim of the government was to provide Wi-Fi coverage to all Indian cities having a population of over 1 million and to all tourist destinations by December 2015.

While that aim does seem somewhat far-fetched at the moment, it would certainly be an achievement even if the government managed to connect the top 25 cities with Wi-Fi in the coming year. According to a PTI report, the selected telecom firms would get around three months to complete the rollout of Wi-Fi services in their allotted areas.

Their job would be made easier by the government itself, as it would help them gain permissions from local authorities for the projects. It had been reported that the Indian government had even identified 25 archaeological monuments where it would bringing Wi-Fi services.

India Today reported that the telecom firms might get three months to complete rollout from the date of acceptance of the purchase order. The project would be jointly executed by the department of telecom and ministry of urban development.

The government would facilitate permissions required from local authorities for network roll out.

The government had also separately identified 25 archaeological monuments for provision of free Wi-Fi access, according to the source.

These include Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort, Qutub Complex in Delhi, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri Sravasti and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Vaishali-Kohua in Bihar, Martand Temple and Leh Palace in J&K, Konark Temple in Odisha, Rani-ki Vav Gujarat, Khajuraho and Mandu in Madhya Pradesh and Rang Ghar in Assam.

Commentators say Wi-Fi spots would lessen traffic burden on telecom networks.

These spots would help tourists, foreign tourists stay connected.