Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to install 40,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the country by 2018 through the public-private-partnerships. The project will entail a total cost of Rs 60 billion and the tender for the project is likely to be floated in July 2015.
According to BSNL, the company will set up 2,500 Wi-Fi hot spots at 250 locations at a cost of Rs 5 billion in 2015-16. The locations include Jagannath Temple at Puri, Marina beach in Chennai, Kovalam beach in Kerala, Khajuraho, Nashik, Fatehpur Sikri and Hamphi.
The Wi-Fi services will be offered without cost for the first 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, a customer can continue using the service on paid basis for which subscription plans will be available in the denomination of Rs 20, Rs 30, Rs 50 and Rs 70 for validity of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes and one day, respectively.
