Digital connectivity has become a basic right for the citizens of India. While there are many who are connected to the internet with affordable data packs, there are still many who find it difficult to pay for the data. Along with that, those who can pay don't get seamless network connectivity almost everywhere. This issue can be solved through one thing - free public Wi-Fi hotspots. The Wi-Fi hotspots can ensure that users are connected to the internet all the time, whether it is through mobile data or through Wi-Fi.
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Karnataka government is planning to bring 5000 free Wi-Fi hotspots in the megacity of Bengaluru by December 2023. According to an ET report, DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Priyank Kharge, IT BT Minister, announced that Bengaluru is likely to get free public Wi-Fi zones by December. The government will soon start talking to the broadband service providers as well as the telecom service providers, said Kharge.
This plan isn't new. It was first talked about in 2019. At that time, the government was planning to offer free internet for the first 30 minutes or an hour through the Wi-Fi hotspots and then charge users if they wanted to continue using beyond that time frame. The scheme was estimated to cost around Rs 100 crore and was to be fully funded by ACT Fibernet.
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Whether the Karnataka government will offer the internet with the same scheme of 30 minutes free and then pay beyond that is not known. But one thing is for sure, if 5000 free Wi-Fi hotspots are set up in the city of Bengaluru, it can definitely be of help to people who need seamless network connectivity in every area. The best thing would be that they won't need to pay for it and can use it daily for some time. It would also immensely help people who can't pay for mobile data.
