Now, public WiFi users to get 30 minutes free data everyday

Users on the state government’s public WiFi network in Mumbai may get to use 1GB of high-speed data at tariffs as low as around Rs 15. 

They will get 500 MB of data or 30 minutes of free daily usage on the ‘Aaple Sarkar Mumbai WiFi’ network before the paid plan will apply. The state Information Technology (IT) department is working on a model for the monetisation of the network, which was launched in January. This model is likely to be finalised this week.

“We are likely to approve a plan which allows people to surf free of cost for 500 MB or half-and-hour. The paid plans will have rates which are cheaper than those offered by private telecom companies. These will be in the range of around Rs 15- 20 per GB and will be valid for a 30-day period,” Vijay Kumar Gautam, principal secretary of the state information technology (IT) department told DNA.

He said that the consultants were working on the model and were in discussions with the public sector MTNL. “The paid service can be accessed through coupons which can be purchased through MTNL offices and from the market,” Gautam added, stating that the government was looking at only recovering its operational expenses and maintenance charges.

Analysis

The WiFi monetisation will help the state meet the operational expenses of the project  
The public WiFi project will help bridge the digital divide in Mumbai 
The state needs to overhaul connectivity bottlenecks 

How will it work?

Government-to-Citizen (G2C) websites will be whitelisted, allowing for unlimited access
Each of the 1,200 hotspots will have around four access points, which can connect around 40 users