Malappuram is now all set to be India’s first municipality offering free Wi-Fi connectivity to its entire population. And, that is just a part of what is on offer. Free high-speed Wi-Fi internet connectivity will be available in its 33 sq. km. limits.
The service will be initially limited to the twin towns of Uphill and Downhill, and then expanded to cover the whole municipal area. As many as 17 high-power antennae have been erected along the 21-km roads within the municipal limits.
The municipality has roped in RailTel Corporation of India to ensure high-speed connectivity to its 68,000 people. All infrastructure is now in place and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is expected to inaugurate the project, said Municipal chairman K.P. Mohammed Mustafa.
The initiative is funded by a State IT Department grant of Rs. 50 lakh and another Rs.95 lakh the Municipality raised, to meet initial costs.
“The idea is to ensure ample speed even if 2,000 users log in at the same time,” said Mr. Mustafa. Technicians involved in the project said that an average speed of 200 mbps would be provided.
All that users need to do is to register their mobile phones with the municipality to get passwords for connectivity.
However, it will not be unfettered connectivity. “We will have some restrictions on certain websites offering free downloads of heavy content, like movies,” said Mr. Mustafa. Although it will be totally free, the municipality will monitor the usage.
