Wi-Fi is the new buzzword of civic bodies

Close on the heels of Kochi Corporation’s proposal to turn ten important points in the city into Wi-Fi hotspots, the district panchayat is planning to make its important subordinate offices Wi-Fi enabled. Cheranalloor panchayat also has similar plans.

The proposal to introduce Wi-Fi in 50-odd offices of the district panchayat with the assistance of the BSNL will have to be cleared by the vetting officer before being submitted to the district planning committee for the final go-ahead. District panchayat’s main office at Kakkanad has been Wi-Fi enabled for the last two years.

“The first phase is likely to be started in three months under which important offices of agriculture, education, and health will get Wi-Fi connectivity. Offices of the higher secondary schools and technical institutions under the district panchayat will follow suit in the second phase,” said district panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappillil.

Meanwhile, the corporation’s proposal is running a bit behind the schedule. According to the officials, it is because of the delay in bringing in imported equipment. However, they claim that Kochiites will be able to access Wi-Fi on their mobile phones within 300 metres of all ten selected points in the city – corporation main office, Durbar Hall, Marine Drive, Vyttila Mobility Hub, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Edappally, Kaloor, and High Court junction – later this month.

Equipment to facilitate Wi-Fi has already been installed at all points except the Mobility Hub and Durbar Hall where the installation is under way. BSNL will provide the connectivity with the technical assistance of the Bangalore-based Quadgen Wireless Solutions. “Trial run to test the connectivity is already under way,” corporation sources said.

The public can use the connectivity free of cost for the first 15 minutes whereafter a charge, which authorities claim would be at least 30 per cent less than an ordinary household Wi-Fi connectivity would be charged. “BSNL is expected to come up with the rates shortly,” they said.

Cheranalloor panchayat has set apart Rs. 3.50 lakh for the initial works to make selected points Wi-Fi enabled. Chittoor and Container Terminal Road junction within the panchayat limits are among the potential Wi-Fi hotspots identified. The exponential growth of apartment complexes prompted the panchayat to go Wi-Fi.