Bhubaneswar, July 9: When on Puri's Grand Road or Badadanda, go Wi-Fi.
In the run-up to the Nabakalebar celebrations in Puri, Union minister for communications and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad today dedicated the much-awaited wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) service to the public.
To start with, the Wi-Fi connectivity will be available in the vicinity of the Singha Dwar of the Jagannath temple.
Later, the service will be available on the entire 3km stretch between the Jagannath temple and the Trinity's aunt's place, the Gundicha temple.
National telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) had commissioned the project.
On July 1, the BSNL had brought the Konark Sun temple, a world heritage site, under Wi-Fi network.
While Puri and Konark have gone hi-tech, Bhubaneswar is moving towards achieving its dream to become India's first total Wi-Fi city.
State information technology minister Pranab Prakash Das told The Telegraph: "We have floated a tender for proof of concept survey at five vital locations in the city. Once the survey reports are compiled, a detailed project report will be ready."
The surveys are carried out to check the Wi-Fi service feasibility and users' profile in a particular area.
"The project report preparation will take three to four months after the survey is over," Das said.
Inaugurating the facility in Puri, Prasad said: "We have already turned 160 places across the country into Wi-Fi hotspots. The government is trying hard to increase the number to 250, so that more people can use the Internet."
Sources said that in India there were 22 crore Internet users and through the Digital India programme, the Centre was planning to take this count to 50 crore.
Nigam Kishore Patra, 20, a student from Puri, said: "The Wi-Fi service along the Badadanda will help not only local residents, but also thousands of travellers, especially those who are planning to visit the city for the Nabakalebar festival."
Nabakalebar is celebrated once every 12 or 19 years. This year, the festival will culminate with rath yatra on July 18 when the new deities will be first seen by lakhs of devotees on their respective chariots.
Anil Kumar Sahu, 21, also a student and resident of Puri, said: "After Konark, the Wi-Fi service on the Badadanda will definitely put the pilgrim city in the hi-tech league with Agra and Varanasi."
BSNL chief general manager (Odisha circle) Bijayananda Mishra said: "The Wi-Fi broadband service is made available with the Gibabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network technology by using optical fibres. The entire location is called a Wi-Fi hotspot zone through which people will get 24X7 service."
Sources at the BSNL, however, added that while at Konark the broadband bandwidth is 10mbps, in Puri it is 50mbps.
Technically, higher mbps means better Internet speed.
A senior BSNL engineer also explained that a hotspot provides the Internet through several access points.
According to a rough estimate, the entire 3km stretch of Badadanda or Grand Road may need 45 to 50 hotspots to deliver the service.
The access points are connected to the hotspots. Usually, one hotspot has a capacity to connect to six access points.
In order to provide faster Internet facility, a service provider has to install more access points in a locality.
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
- When a user wants to access Wi-Fi network, a common page will ask for person’s name, mobile number and e-mail ID
- On submission of info, a key word or onetime password will be generated to allow Wi-Fi access
- The service is linked to mobile number
- A mobile number can be used to access free Wi-Fi service up to 30 minutes, thrice a month
- On expiry of 30 minutes, the system will ask about user’s willingness to continue a paid service. Payments can be made through Net banking or pre-paid vouchers
Coverage area
- Singha Dwar and adjacent areas outside Jagannath Temple on Badadanda or Grand Road in Puri
Elsewhere
- Wi-Fi service launched at Sun temple in Konark on July 1. No restrictions on use of gadgets and tariff structure same as in Puri
Tariff structure
- 30 mins: Rs 30
- One hour: Rs 50
- Two hours: Rs 90
- 24 hours: Rs 150
