Microsoft, IBM keen to offer Wi-Fi service in Bhubaneswar

DPR will be readied within three months; tenders to be awarded in six months for making city Wi-Fi enabled

The state government’s ambitious plan to make its capital Bhubaneswar fully Wi-Fi enabled has drawn the attention of IT biggies like Microsoft and IBM.

“Both Microsoft and IBM have shown interest in offering Wi-Fi service at Bhubaneswar. IBM, on its own, is keen to give a presentation on the Wi-Fi connectivity model. We are going to have a meeting with the IBM representatives later this month,” said state minister for IT, energy and women & child development, Pranab Prakash Das.

The detailed project report (DPR) will be readied within three months. Tenders will be awarded in six months for making the city Wi-Fi enabled, he added.

The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Bhubaneswar, has prepared the terms of reference (ToR) of the project.

The state government will pay Rs 1 crore in advance to STPI for undertaking the feasibility study.

STPI will take note of the best practices adopted in various cities having Wi-Fi connectivity. After completing the feasibility study, STPI will engage a consultant for preparing the DPR.

Bhubaneswar will be the first city in the country to be completely Wi-Fi enabled, the minister had claimed. In other cities with Wi-Fi connectivity, only some important areas are covered, like Patna, where there is a 20 km free Wi-Fi zone, Bangalore (Mahatma Gandhi Road and Brigade Road) and New Delhi (Connaught Place area).

However, the access to Wi-Fi service in the city will not be entirely free and will be based on a revenue model.

Wi-Fi services may be considered free of cost for about 20-30 minutes in a day as introduced in other cities. The revenue model will be worked out in consultation with STPI.

It may be noted that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had tied up with telecom service provider Tata Docomo to offer Wi-Fi services at the posh Connaught Place locality.

The move to make Bhubaneswar Wi-Fi enabled gained momentum after chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave his nod to the plan of the IT department.