Delhi govt drops plan on Wi-Fi for security reasons

Delhi government's ambitious plan to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for high-speed wireless internet services in some of the favourite haunts in the capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games has been stalled due to security reasons.    

"We had no option but to drop the plan after MTNL, the service provider for the our project, refused to go ahead in the identified Wi-Fi zones citing security reasons," Delhi Chief secretary Rakesh Mehta told PTI.  

The move has come after it was felt that wireless fidelity (WiFi) was not a fool-proof mechanism in view of militants using it to carry out attacks in Mumbai and Ahmedabad last year.  

 

Under the proposal which was initiated two years back, the city government had identified four zones for Wi-Fi access coverage namely Rajiv Chowk area, also known as Connaught Place, South Extension I and II and Nehru Place.  

The plan envisaged easier access to Internet services thereby allowing fast speed communication while on the move.   

"Of course, it would have been a landmark step in providing Internet connectivity that would have propelled quicker broadband availability in shops, marketplaces, offices etc particularly during the forthcoming games," Mehta said.  

However, the official did not rule out revival of the project once proper security measures are in place.

The Home Ministry has already banned the use of WiFi internet or WiFi-enabled computers in sensitive ministries and also suggested installation of intrusion detection systems wherever their use was unavoidable.