MG, Brigade Road to get free Wi-Fi service by month-end

 

• IT Department waiting for chief minister to launch the project

 

Bangalore, 23 August 2013, (DHNS): Bangalore’s commercial hubs of MG Road and Brigade Road are all set to become free wi-fi zones by month-end with the Information Technology Department just waiting for a date from the chief minister’s office for a formal launch of the project.

 

“The installation of equipment on the two stretches has been completed and so has the testing process. People entering MG Road and Brigade Road can access their e-mails or browse the internet for free using the Wi-Fi service”, IT and BT Department Principal Secretary ISN Prasad told.

 

A private internet service provider (ISP) will render the services, while the bills will be footed by the State.

 

The idea of providing free Wi-Fi  access on these two busy stretches was mooted by Karnataka Information and Communication Technology Group (KIG -2020) headed by technocrat T V Mohandas Pai in its recommendations to the government earlier this year.

 

The access protocol has also been finalised. According to Pai, a person with a Wi-Fi  enabled device - a smart phone or tablet - will have to register by providing name and mobile number once he gets into the Wi-Fi zone.

 

The service provider will send a password. Using the password, internet services can be accessed for two hours from the time of registration. If the person comes out of the zone or completes the two hour access period, re-registration has to be done. Data transfer speed will be up to 256 kbps which is considered as moderate speed.

 

However, there will be no provision to download or watch videos, Pai noted.

 

Pai said KIG felt that the IT capital needed to have a few free Wi-Fi  zones. The panel has also recommended that the areas surrounding Vidhana Soudha, Electronics City and Jayanagar 4th Block also be made free Wi-Fi hubs.

 

The government plans to extend the project to some select areas in Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore. Recently, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation launched free Wi-Fi services on select coaches running between MG Road and Baiyappanahalli.