BSNL to setup 40,000 Wi-fi hotspots by 2018: R S Prasad

Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) would set up around 40,000 Wi-fi hotspots across the country an investment of about Rs 6,000 crore.

Speaking at the launch of Wi-fi hotspot zone at the Taj Mahal on Tuesday, the Union Minister said that the project is likely to be completed by 2018.

The Wi-fi service at the historical monument was launched as part of government's plan to put such services at major tourist places.

Meanwhile, BSNL's chairman and managing director, Anupam Shrivastava, said that the state owned company would be setting up 2,500 more Wi-fi hotspots at 250 locations this year at an estimated cost of Rs. 500 crore and added that 200 such hot spots have already been set up.

The Wi-fi service would be free for the first 30 minutes after which a customer can continue using the service on paid basis. The paid plans are available in the denomination of Rs. 20, Rs. 30, Rs. 50 and Rs. 70 for validity of 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and one day respectively.

BSNL has also planned to expand the coverage of the Wi-fi facility to other tourist and religious locations like Khajuraho, Jagannath puri by March 2016.