Bhubaneswar, July 30: Fliers at Biju Patnaik International Airport can now access the Internet as they wait to take their flight.
Starting last week, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) service has been introduced for passengers both at the domestic (T1) and international (T2) terminals of the airport.
The Wi-Fi technology uses radio waves to send the signals just like mobile phones, television and radio to maintain high-speed Internet connections, so that an integration can be built among the devices such as phones, computers, printers and cameras.
Both the departing and arriving passengers can now avail themselves of the service after getting a coupon from the airport terminal manager. One has to go through the instructions written on the coupon to login, and thereafter, can use a free service up to 30 minutes either on a smart phone, tablet or a laptop. However for subsequent use, a passenger has to pay to the service provider.
Airport director Sharad Kumar said: "After the expiry of the free session for 30 minutes, a user has to pay Rs 20 for the next 30 minutes and then Rs 30 per hour. The users would have to make the payment online. Private telecom service provider Bharti Infratel is providing the service at the Bhubaneswar airport."
Introduction of the facility has made fliers happy.
Frequent traveller from Bangalore B. Sailaja said: "Most of the air travellers nowadays fly with their laptops or smart phones. The provision for Wi-Fi service both at the T1 and the T2 will help them extensively. Now, I can spend the extra time with my gadgets at the airport."
Dubai-based Odia businessman Pabitra Mohan Sahu said: "The Wi-Fi service at the international terminal helps passengers in better connectivity and quality service delivery process. I am more happy as just after the airport had launched the feeder flight service from the T2 for international fliers, it introduced the Wi-Fi facility, which is definitely an additional service for passengers like us."
On July 10, The Telegraph had first reported that both the terminals and some adjacent areas near the airport director's office would be covered under the Wi-Fi facility shortly.
In June end, the authorities started the trials, and following technical analysis, finally launched the service.
Apart from the Wi-Fi service at the international airport, a solar energy plant to manufacture 100KW electricity has already become operational.
In future, the airport plans to have a 5MW solar energy plant, so that the facility can become a landmark with the green building technology options. Both the Wi-Fi service and the green building concept provide vital scores for a smart city.
