Namma Wi-Fi, free wireless Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi hotspots, was launched in five locations here on Friday by Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology S.R. Patil.
The free Wi-Fi will be available in commercial hotspots including M.G. Road and Brigade Road, CMH Road in Indiranagar, and Shanthinagar, Yeshwanthpur and Kormangala bus-stands.
Mr. Patil said the service was the “dream” of the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who promised free Wi-Fi in his budget last year.
According to him, the free Wi-Fi would help students as well as budding entrepreneurs.
The service would be extended to 10 other locations in the city as well as to tier II cities such as Hubli, Dharwad, Mangalore and Belgaum, he added.
TechnicalitiesUsers would be able to access Internet speeds of up to 512 kbps. Usage will be limited to three hours a day, and maximum 50 MB data a day.
As many as 2,500 users can log on at the same time in Brigade Road and M.G. Road, which have 23 wireless hotspots or access points, while there are 28 hotspots in all the other locations.
Users can connect to the network either via an Android app, or using an authentication password that will be sent to their phone upon registration.
The government has tied up with D-Vois Broadband Pvt. Ltd., a private Internet service provider, to execute the project. Ramesh Sathya, director of the company, said they had developed the service for free.
Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, claimed the government had addressed aspects of security. The system could track individuals as well as details of downloads, he said.
Users facing difficulty in accessing the service can call the 24-hour toll-free number: 1800 123 9636.
