BSNL to double wi-fi network in UP

At present, the state-run telecom giant operates wi-fi hotspots at 14 locations across Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi

Public sector telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is expanding the free wi-fi network in Uttar Pradesh.

The company has planned to more than double its wi-fi hotspots in UP (East) Circle in the next couple of months. At present, BSNL operates wi-fi hotspots at 14 locations across Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi.

In Varanasi, the free wi-fi hotspots include Jayapur, the village adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for socio-economic development in his parliamentary constituency. Besides, wi-fi services also cover Varanasi Airport, Sarnath and eight ghats on the banks of river Ganga.

Now, plans are afoot to provide wi-fi network at 23 more locations in Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jhansi and Gorakhpur. “We have already received the equipment and currently the new wi-fi services are either under testing or installation stages,” UP (East) Circle Chief General Manager (CGM) H R Shukla said.

The wi-fi spots were identified on the basis of economic feasibility and footfalls. While, BSNL provides free wi-fi service for the first 15 minutes, the consumer is charged for the service thereafter.

He said the company was focussing on increasing and upgrading its wi-fi network, as it was capable of offering better voice and data services compared to even 4G.

Meanwhile, BSNL cut its expenditure by over Rs 100 crore or 6 per cent in the Circle from Rs 1,606 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1,505 crore in 2015-16 mainly due to the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), he informed.

Apart from domestic consumers, BSNL caters to several institutional and government sector clients as well, including UP Police.